Andy Holding's Sunday Racing Tips

With the Fergal O’Brien’s team clearly in excellent shape, big things will be expected of Imperial Alcazar on his eagerly-awaited hurdling debut, but that expectation has been reflected in his price, whereas GREEN DOLPHIN (best price 7-1) appears to have been slightly overlooked and he rates the value each-way alternative.

A hugely impressive winner both visually and on the clock at Wincanton back in March, Harry Fry’s gelding went to Newbury to contest a listed bumper with plenty of confidence attached to his chance, but after racing keenly in the early part of the race, he failed to pack any kind of punch in the latter stages. Put away thereafter, hopefully the son of Oscar will come back to the sort of form that allowed him to run such a big number at the West Country track, and with his yard just beginning to come out of the sticky path they had several weeks ago, it would come as no great surprise to see this long-term prospect start off brightly in his new discipline.

Quite a contrast in conditions up and down the land and with the West Country track missing most of the torrential rain which has fallen elsewhere in the last 48 hours, and that means DEMON FOU (NAP) (best price 11-2) has his ideal surface to hopefully run to his very best again.

Having his first since May 10 days ago, Jeremy Scott’s gelding was given a typically patient ride by Matt Griffiths and with a well-timed challenge in between the last two flights, he came away from his rivals to score in tidy fashion on the run-in. The feature of that performance was that he managed to run an almost identical final circuit time to the one posted by Sebastapol in the 2m handicap on the same card, and considering this six-year-old is rated 20lb inferior and racing over half a mile further, it just shows what levels he ran to on the day. Likely to be given a similarly considerate ride on his return to the same C&D, the son of Le Fou will hopefully be another enjoyable watch for his supporters.

PIVOTAL FLAME (best price 11-2) seemed to relish the step up in trip at Ballinrobe last time out and she’s fancied to continue along the right path back at a track where she’s gone well in the past.

Although she was sent off a 25-1 outsider at the Co Mayo venue 37 days ago, the overall performances levels, such as the time figure and standard of opposition she beat, suggested there was no fluke about the victory, so it makes perfect sense to keep her on side until told otherwise. Prior that improved effort, the daughter of Pivotal has run well in a hugely-competitive mares’ only race over today’s course at the Festival back in July and even though there has to be slight question marks about the suitability of today’s ground, she’s had enough decent efforts on soft to suggest she’ll be okay.