Andy Holding's Sunday Racing Tips

VARDS (best price 14-1) is very much a work in progress, but he’s shown more than enough in his most recent performances that there’s races to be won and following another step in the right direction at Wincanton last time out, today might just be the day when everything clicks into place.

Eye-catching in several above-average novice events, the pick of which was when he was runner-up to subsequent scorer Zanza at Chepstow, Jack Barber’s gelding was significantly upped in trip for his handicap debut 17 days ago, and although he failed to cut too much ice in the final analysis, at the same time, he was by no means disgraced. In what turned out to be a hugely competitive and strongly-run affair at the West Country venue, the son of Tamure travelled up nicely going as well as anything turning for home, but whether in a was lack of stamina or him not quite being good enough, he couldn’t keep up the gallop in the closing stages and he faded into a respectable fifth. Although it’s only a small sample, at least the runner-up, Myplaceatmidnight, has gone on to boost the form since and with today’s contest and ground conditions pretty similar to what he faced last time out, a small amount of improvement over this shorter trip should see the nine-year-old competitive at the very least.

Not the classiest of renewals of this prestigious prize held in the North and it looks to provide OUT SAM (NAP) (best price 4-1) with a clear-cut opportunity for making up for last season’s bad stroke of ill-fortune. Well-backed in the build up to the contest twelve months ago, things looked to be going according to the script for Gordon Elliot’s inmate as he breezed serenely into the lead on the run down to the second last, but that’s where the drama started to unfold. Still seemingly in control after jumping the last, a loose horse decided to swerve around the fence and run straight across towards the stands side, but in doing so, he took the son of Multiplex with him. Losing upwards of five lengths along with important momentum, the 10-year-old couldn’t recover it time and he had to settle for a minor role behind stable companion Poorman’s Hill. Likely to have had this race in mind ever since, he arrives here off the back of a tremendous effort when fourth in the massively-competitive Thythes Chase at Gowran last time out and considering he finished ahead of Irish National hero, General Principle, not to mention the likes of Mall Dini, classy pair, Polidam and Valseur Lido and subsequent winner Pairofbrowneyes, and as you can see, today’s contest is a huge dive-bomb in quality.

Not a card to be getting too excited about, but WARNAQ (best price 14-1) is certainly worth a small interest in the first big handicap of the Irish Flat season.

Useful under both codes, it’s noticeable that most of her best form on the level has been gained at two very similar tracks, namely Naas and Navan, and her latest victory at the former venue is one of the reasons why she makes quite a bit of appeal here this afternoon. Taking up her customary front-running role after a furlong, Matthew Smith’s mare maintained a relentless gallop all the way to the line and as that victory conclusively proved that she stays a well-run 1m2f well, that extra stamina under today’s conditions will come in handy in the final pull for home. A winner also over a mile on heavy ground at the latter venue, the daughter of Arcano has a decent draw in order for her to adopt her usual handy pose and hailing from a yard in a rich vein of form at present, there’s every reason to expect a bold show from this mud-loving five-year-old.

An overly-aggressive ride given to CONINGSBY (best price 7-1) ultimately led to his downfall at Carlisle last time out, but providing he’s ridden with a little more restraint this time around, he could easily figure prominently in this similar contest.

Still going well enough in the lead when running out at the tenth fence on his seasonal reappearance over the same course back in November, the son of Midnight Legend returned to the same Cumbrian venue 34 days ago and in trying to dictate matters from the front, he got embroiled in a pace dual at the head of affairs, which he could ill afford. To his ultimate credit. however, Tom Lacey’s gelding kept plugging away to finish an honourable third behind the progressive Arthur’s Gift and with the speed figure of the race suggesting it was a useful race of its kind, he probably doesn’t need to improve massively to be considered a major threat here.