Andy Holding's Sunday Racing Tips

ENCORE LUI (NAP) (best price 6-4) was a shade unlucky to bump into a well-treated mare in the shape of Dolly’s Destination here last time out, but compensation surely awaits Liz Doyle’s gelding in this much weaker-looking affair.

Having his first run for 246-days, the son of Al Namix was noted going well in behind the speed and when hitting the front on the approach to the last, it looked for all the world he would go on to land the prize. Unfortunately, the five-year-old grey couldn’t cope with the late charge of the eventual winner, but he did keep on well up the hill to finish in front of a highly-competitive field and a repeat of the same level of form should be enough to see him get off the mark at the sixth time of asking.

There’s little to separate Molly Ollys Wishes and PRECIOUS ELEANOR (best price 15-2) based on their recent exploits over today’s C&D, but as the latter is available to play from an each-way perspective, Henry Daly’s filly gains the vote on value grounds.

Having shown only a modicum of promise on her debut in bumper last season, it was easy to see why the daughter of Maresca Sorrento was sent off an unconsidered 33-1 chance here a month ago, but in running on strongly from three out, she belied her starting price and gave out plenty of positively for the future. Clearly suited by a fair test and today’s track, the lightly-raced four-year-old looks booked for a podium finish at the very least.

As ever, a typically competitive renewal of this sought-after prize and the two that make the most appeal at the morning prices are DISCORAMA (best price 15-2) and TOWER BRIDGE (best price 7-1).

The former has a tricky task on his hands in trying to lump top weight, but he brings Grade 1 form to the party and he has the sufficient class and stamina to figure. A gallant runner-up in the four-mile National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last season, Paul Nolan’s inmate rounded off his campaign by filling out the same position behind Delta Work in the Champion Novices’ Chase at the Punchestown Festival, once again putting in a decent shift. Likely to be all the better for his initial outing of the season when finding Wexford’s tight track an insufficient test, the son of Saddler Maker should go a long way to justify the decision by connections to stay on home soil rather than tackle the more valuable Ladbroke Trophy at Newbury in two weeks’ time.

The latter was also a runner-up at last season’s Cheltenham Festival, this time over a mile-and-a-half shorter, but that doesn’t mean he’s a potentially short runner based on all his previous efforts. Let’s not forget that Joseph O’Brien’s gelding was a close-up third in the Grade 1 Aintree Novices’ Hurdle over three miles the previous season, so he clearly has enough quality to raise his game to the highest heights. Bound to be all the sharper for his pipe-opener in a red-hot beginners’ chase at Naas 15 days ago, it would come as no surprise if the son of High Chaparral were to break his maiden tag over fences on his first dip in to handicap company.

SONG OF THE SKY (best price 9-4) arrives here in terrific heart and is fancied to keep up the good work despite switching back from fences to hurdles.

Picked up fairly cheaply from the Joseph O’Brien camp, the daughter of Rip Van Winkle has turned out to be a pretty shrewd purchase for new connections and following three successive placed effort, she finally got her just rewards with a smooth victory at Lingfield last time out. Always travelling well at the Surrey venue, Charlie Mann’s inmate exhibited a pleasant turn of foot given the testing conditions that day and that was backed up by the excellent numbers she achieved when analysing the post-race figures. Not quite sharp enough to cope with Sweet Adare around a sharp track like Stratford the time before, today’s course which places more emphasis on stamina will suit and the six-year-old rates a good bet to send favourite backers home happy.