Andy Holding's Sunday Racing Tips

The maiden won by Sunday Sovereign at the Curragh last month is without doubt the strongest two-year-old form line of its kind during the early part of the Irish Flat turf campaign and having run eye-catchingly well to finish on the heels of the main players that day, PRINCE OF NAPLES (NAP) (best price 7-2) rates a confident choice to press home the impression he created at the Co Kildare track.

Sent off a 25-1 outsider, Sheila Lavery’s colt was also done no favours being stuck out on the wing in stall one, but having travelled well through the early part of the contest, he came to have every chance at the two-furlong pole. Unfortunately, from that point onwards, the stagger unwound and he couldn’t go with the better class horses who were positioned on the quickest part of the track but he was no means knocked about in the closing stages and his finishing position in fifth probably deserves slightly upgrading. Well drawn here this afternoon, a decent break should get him immediately into the thick of the action and based on the pace he showed on his debut 27 days ago, he should have any trouble holding his place and being competitive throughout.

There shouldn’t be any hanging around here with the likes of Gotthenod and Dolly Dancer in the line-up and having run well off the back of a strong pace at Ballinrobe earlier in the week, that sort of environment should prove ideal for JUST KLASS (best price 6-1).

A winner at Cork last August, the Oscar mare has been fairly lightly raced since and following a couple of pipe-openers in early spring, she was readied to run to a career-high level. Staying on well from the back of the field at the Co Mayo venue, Mark Fagan’s seven-year-old only found the useful Ejayteekay too strong in the latter stages, but she ran out clear second best on the night and with the time figure pointing towards it being a very strong race of its kind, she has bright prospects of regaining the winning thread if running to a similar standard six days on.

Plenty of lively contenders in this competitive handicap hurdle and ROCK ON SEAMIE (best price 8-1) and PARTY PLAYBOY (best price 11-1) appeal as two that should go well at their respective morning odds.

The former has yet to really set the world alight over hurdles but he may have finished a good deal closer at Limerick last time out but for a bad mistake that nearly dislodged his jockey at the last. Since that untimely error, Ray Hackett’s inmate has been in cracking from on the Flat and off what looks a workable mark given his current wellbeing, he can go close to registering his first win over hurdles.

The latter might just be better over further but he’s posted some decent efforts in defeat of late and his time figures suggest he’s worth a go at the morning odds. Often a front runner, he failed to get home on his last two starts over 2m4f and 2m7f respectively and maybe a positive ride over the minimum trip is what Anthony Mullins’ requires.

FIT FOR FUNCTION (best price 5-1) ran out a ready winner at Gowran the other night and that confidence he picked up will hopefully be carried forward enough for him to capture this race for the second successive season.

Going into that contest at the Kilkenny venue off the back of a useful effort from a bad draw at the Curragh, John Murphy’s gelding was strongly fancied to deliver the goods and following good break and a decent early track position, he came through strongly in the closing stages to win going away. Time-wise, it was a notable effort on the clock by the six-year-old and although he could have done with a better draw here this afternoon, he’s in the kind of shape to overcome that slightly impost.