Andy Holding's Sunday Racing Tips

This looks a good opportunity for The Last Day to get off the mark over fences but his odds reflect his obvious chance, the value option looks to be TRONGATE (best price 13-8 W/Out The Last Day) in the ‘without the favourite’ markets. 

A useful hurdler at his best, Iain Jardine’s gelding has improved since switching to the larger obstacles and his two wins and general consistent profile have been borne out of a fairly jump jumping technique. Although readily put his place by the smart Dandy Dan at Ayr last time out, his run prior to that effort over today’s course reads well in the context of this race, even more so if you take into account he only finished just behind Didero Vallis, who went on to finish a brave fifth in the Brown Advisory Plate at Cheltenham this week.

Having scored over 2m4f on heavy ground at Ayr three starts ago, his ability to stay well should count for plenty in today’s testing conditions and with his main opponent for the runner-up shootout, Vendor, arguably not quite as good as he was and best going left-handed, the son of Dansant has a decent chance of picking up a fairly healthy cheque. 

It’s a fair trek from Anthony Honeyball’s Mosterton yard in Dorset to the Cumbrian venue, but hopefully the long journey home will be a bit shorter as JEPECK (NAP) (best price 2-1) looks to have a great opportunity to deliver the goods.

Having his first outing for 201 days for new connection at FFos Las back in November, the 10-year-old ran out a fairly comfortable winner of a competitive little heat and the fact he managed to achieve that feat despite jumping badly out to his right is testimony to his ability. Back racing around a more suitable circumference at Exeter last time out, the son of Westerner ran with credit to finish sixth in the gruelling Devon National and with today’s drop back in trip and ground ideal, it would be disappointing if he weren’t capable of showing his best form.