Andy Holding's Sunday Racing Tips

JARROCHO (best price 15-2) has driven connections and supporters around the twist on more than one or two occasions and even though gut instinct suggests it’s probably not the wisest thing to side with a perpetually unlucky horse such as this fella on a regular basis, he’s shown far too much to just sit back and walk away from him completely.

Desperate several times at Dundalk throughout the winter, David Marnane’s gelding didn’t really cut much ice on his first two starts on the turf in May, but as both of those efforts came over an inadequate trip, he can be forgiven for the no-shows. Back over his optimum trip at Gowran last time out, the son of Requinto was noted doing some good late work down the outside in the final two furlongs and he would only have to run to a similar level to make an impact against these opponents.

CRAFTY HUGO (best price 22-1) has got some horrific form figures next to his name and it’s easy to see why he’s been shoved in a 25-1 rag, but there was some encouragement to be taken out of his latest effort over today’s course and because of that he’s worth a small interest to see whether it was no fluke and he can build that performance.

Missing the break 22 days ago, the son of Mastercraftsman found himself detached in last place as the field rounded the home bend, but from that point onwards he started to pick up nicely and then that’s where the trouble began to unfold. Travelling as well as anything with two furlongs to run, the four-year-old proceeded to hit a wall of horses coming back into his lap and he simply had to sit and suffer while racing hard on the bridle. Once the gap eventually appeared down the inside, he made belated late headway but unfortunately there wasn’t sufficient enough time for him to make an impact. Given that the time figure of the race was good and if you take the view he would have gone close with a clear run, his performance deserves upgrading, and if you also take into account that he should, in theory, be better suited by today’s extra furlong and a half, then he simply has to be worth a shy at the stumps at his morning odds of 25-1.

THE SWEENEY (NAP) (best price 10-3) seems to have taken a shine to today’s track and he gets another chance to cement some impressive stats he’s carved out at the Lincolnshire venue on his return visit.

A largely consistent type, Emma Lavelle’s charge shaped well back here in April when runner-up to the well-ridden and useful Earlofthecotswolds and when he came back a month later he’d gained enough knowledge to put away seven smart rivals in a competitive handicap. Good on the numbers that day, the seven-year-old still has the feel of a fairly unexposed horse with the possibility of more to come and although he faces one or two slippery opponents here this afternoon, I doubt he would have needed any sleeping pills when he hit the pillow last night.