Andy Holding's Sunday Racing Tips

LA TEKTOR (best price 6-1) has had the crossbar in splinters in recent times and following another solid effort when runner-up to the useful School Boy Hours at Cork last time out, another big run looks on the cards from Tony Martin’s gelding.

Runner-up to the smart Voix Des Tiep in a well-run affair over two miles the time before, the son of Protektor was strongly fancied to go one place better at the Co Mallow venue 17 days ago and although he failed in his bid to finally get off the mark over hurdles, he still came out of the contest with his reputation intact. Although the step up to 2m4f suited, he just got done for a little bit of tactical speed by the eventual winner and with today’s galloping course likely to play into his strengths, he rates a rattling good each-way bet at the morning odds.

Typically wide-open fare for this time of season, but TONY THE GENT (best price 9-2) caught the eye on his opening salvo at Naas two weeks ago and he’s fancied to build on that promising effort in this similar contest.

Fairly busy on the all-weather over the winter, Ger Lyons clearly had the Irish Lincoln as the first main target for his charge and although the Co Meath handler hit the mark with the eventual winner Karawaan, he still came out of the race with great credit in fifth. Way off the pace as the field turned for home (last three furlongs out), the son of Kodiac finished his race of best of all to within hailing distance of his impressive stable companion and with the time figure of the race suggesting it was an above-average renewal of the first big mile handicap, he clearly ran to a very high standard despite not hitting the frame. Having run well here on his only previous visit and with fitness on his side, the six-year-old looks primed to put up a bold show.

ZERO TEN (NAP) (best price 10-3) is progressing at a rapid rate of knots and although today’s contest represents a stiff rise in class, Emmet Mullins’ gelding is fancied to bridge the gap.

A wide-margin winner of a Galway maiden hurdle back in October, the son of Shantou was well-backed to back up that performance at Leopardstown last time out and even though he’d been off the track for 168 days, he ended up running out a supremely easy winner. The way he travelled and quickened at the Dublin track suggested he’s very much worth a step up in grade and with his time figures indicating his has all the right tools to cope with a well-run contest, the six-year-old can keep his winning run intact.

Unexposed pair Jabulani and Newtide are bound to be popular with their sexy profiles, but they’ve yet to encounter ground as bad as what they will face at today’s Welsh venue, so preference is for ROYAL CLARET (best price 9-1) who is a proven mudlark and was third in the race last year.

Lightly-raced for a seven-year-old, Tom Symonds’ mare clearly relishes a slog, and she posted a career high under such conditions when chasing home the useful pair Solomn Grundy and Laugharne here twelve months ago. Only seen out twice since, her latest performance when scored in typically game fashion was rubber-stamped by her usual never-say-die attitude and having also got a decent record when fresh, the 125 days she’s been off since isn’t seen as a negative.