Andy Holding's Sunday Racing Tips

The form of the Mares’ Novices Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival has already been well advertised by the likes of Indefatigable and Elusive Belle respectively, so the logical step is to play the winner and the fourth that day EGLANTINE DU SEUIL (best price 4-1) and BLACK TEARS (best price 16-1) against the field.
The former went into the contest as an unconsidered 50-1 outsider, but readily brushed aside those rather dismissive odds with a display of raw courage.

Coming from a fair way off the pace, the daughter of Saddler Maker produced a sustained ran from two out that carried her into the heat of battle going down to the last and then once facing the punishing climb to the line, she found extra reserves to get up close home. On the evidence of that performance, today’s extra demands on her stamina should be viewed as a positive and with the potential of even greater things to come, Willie Mullins’ lightly-raced mare is fancied to prove her Festival success 38 days ago was no fluke.

Although beaten on merit in the same contest, the latter certainly isn’t without a chance here this afternoon as today’s ground will suit better and she also has valuable track experience to call upon. Runner-up on her debut over today’s course on her debut, Gordon Elliot’s mare has been largely consistent ever since and her latest effort when fourth at the Festival was a culmination of her endeavours.

Indeed, having travelled like one of the most likely winners for a long way at Prestbury Park, she certainly left the impression she’s a horse that belongs on the big stage and all her best form achieved on a better surface than the those she encountered 38 days ago, the daughter of Jeremy rates a fair each-way bet at her morning odds.

CHAMPAGNE CHAMP (best price 2-1) seemed to react really well to the first-time blinkers at Wincanton and providing the headgear works for the second time, Rod Millman’s gelding should be capable of seizing what appears to be a golden opportunity. 

Although he’s failed to score over hurdles this season, he’s run against some pretty stern opposition and that was very much the case again at the West Country venue seven days ago. Making the running and forcing a strong pace, the son of Champs Elysees looked as though he’d got the race in safe keeping until a power-packed finish by Serosevsky picked his pocket late on, but with the pair well clear of some strongly-fancied rivals, the form looks pretty solid in the context of today’s race.

Although yet to run over today’s track over hurdles, the seven-year-old has run well at the Welsh track on his two outings on the Flat and with another positive ride from the front, he’s likely to take plenty of catching if in the same sort of mood.

RIDERS ONTHE STORM (NAP) (best price 3-1) was strongly fancied in many quarters to play a big part in the Close Brothers Handicap at the Cheltenham Festival, but unfortunately, he now arrives here on a recovery mission after capsizing at the sixth.

Prior to that untimely exit 40 days ago, Tom Taaffe’s gelding had looked really good when easily brushing aside the useful Impact Factor over today’s C&D and even on today’s slightly revised terms he’s expected to confirm form with his old rival. A sound jumper with a high cruising speed, the son of Scorpion has often left the impression he belongs in Graded races, so based on that theory, he really ought to be going close to taking a race of this nature off a mark of 139. 

BITSANDPIECES (best price 15-2) ran another solid race over today’s C&D last time out and he’s fancied to go well again at a track that he clearly enjoys. A winner over two miles at the Mallow track back in November, Michael Winters’ gelding ran with great credit on his two subsequent starts and he was well-found in the market to stake a claim in a much stiffer contest 31 days ago.

In a well-run affair, the son of Milan travelled well enough until left behind by two stronger stayers on the day, but in keeping on well enough to finish a convincing third, he at least proven that three miles is well within his range. One of the few in today’s field who arrives here with a fairly solid profile, the 10-year-old looks sure to go well for local connections.