Andy Holding's Sunday Racing Tips

True to form, many of the usual suspects face the starter in this hugely-competitive sprint handicap and of the 25-strong field, VERHOYEN (best price 10-1) and MISS JABEAM (best price 20-1) both have enough in their favour to warrant an interest at their respective prices.

The former has really clicked into gear of late and with most of his best performances coming at the Co Kildare venue, it makes sense to keep him on side for the time being. A gutsy winner over a similar-sized field here back in May has been supplemented by a fine fourth over seven-furlongs and another success back at the same track last time out and having defeated a fair chunk of today’s rivals fair and square that day, there’s no reason why he couldn’t take charge again.

The latter has also taken quite a fancy to today’s stiff course and she was seen to really good effect here back in July when she got the better of subsequent winner Noirvento close home. Catching the eye with the way she stayed on to capture third behind Blairmayne from a poor draw on her latest visit last month, she just found the return to the minimum trip catching her out at Navan last week. That said, she stayed on well enough up the hill to suggest she remains in good heart and providing she ends up being drawn on the right side of the track, there’s every chance she will be involved in the finish.

Aidan O’Brien has been in typically irresistible form this weekend and it wouldn’t come as the biggest shock in the world if SO PERFECT (best price 20-1) were to add to the collection of medals for the Ballydolye maestro.

Granted, her recent form figures don’t look that clever, but has been plenty of mitigating circumstances such as soft ground, and some six and seven furlong races where her stamina has been tested to the limit. However, on the occasions when she’s raced over the minimum trip, such as her excellent third in the Nunthorpe, she has a squeak of playing some sort of role. Moreover, her two performances over today’s track last year when she beat Skitter Scatter and finished runner-up to Advertise in the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes suggest she also quite likes her home comforts and at her top price quotes of 18-1, she’s worth a small roll of the dice.

A cracking turnout for this sought-after prize, and while a huge amount of respect goes out to the likes of Cross Counter and Kew Gardens, the market seems to have completely overlooked the prospects of the two proper track specialists in the shape of TWILIGHT PAYMENT (best price 16-1) and LATROBE (best price 10-1).

The former has always enjoyed his time spent at the Co Kildare venue – as form figures of 121363241 explain perfectly – and with the latest of his smart efforts here coming at the expense of the classy Latrobe in the Group 2 Curragh Cup over the C&D back in June, it’s not a bold statement to suggest he’s getting better with age. Making all the running that day, the son of Teofilo showed terrific battling qualities to fend off his old rival in the final bounds and with the fifth horse home, Mustajeer, going on to boost the form with a victory in the valuable Ebor Handicap next time, the race in question looks a totally believable one. Moreover, he’s subsequently been snapped up by connections clearly dead-set on bolstering their arsenal in this category and with his prominent run-style also well-suited by the way races often pan out here on the round track, he looks massively overpriced at 16-1.

The latter tried in vain to overhaul his new stable mate 79 days ago, but he just couldn’t quite make up the three lengths advantage he’d afforded his old mucker spinning out of the down straight and that ultimately proved costly in the final count. Back on track with a confidence-boosting win at Leopardstown last time out, the former Irish Derby hero arrives here fresh and well in a bid to keep his track stats of 211242, firmly intact.

A big field that at first glance looks a tricky race to solve, but there’s every chance LAST OPPORTUNITY (NAP) (best price 9-4) could be a cut above the opposition and he rates a strong choice to back up that view. Making his debut at Leopardstown a month ago, Ger Lyons’ colt seemed to be meandering to a pleasing enough first time out display until taking off in the style of a potentially high class juvenile in the final two furlongs. Exhibiting the sort of turn of foot that sets the really smart horses apart from the mundane, the son of Dandy Man clocked an impressive set of backend sectionals that easily superseded everything else on the card and with the strong possibility of there being a good deal more improvement to come – which is often the case from this yard – he rates the best bet on the card.