Andy Holding's Sunday Racing Tips

Strictly speaking, there’s not a great deal to separate stable companions A WAVE OF THE SEA (NAP) (best price 1-1) and Cerberus on their clash at Punchestown in October, but based on the figures they posted in victory next time out, the former took the biggest leap forward and he’s strongly fancied to confirm that progression in this tantalising opener on what should turn out to be an extremely informative afternoon.

There was just a neck between the Joseph O’Brien-trained inmates at the Co Kildare, but there’s also little doubt the former was the worthy winner as he had to survive a poor jump at the last to rally and get back up close home. The son of Born To The Sea then went on to Down Royal for his latest outing and he ended up being a really impressive winner, scoring by a wide margin having picked up the running travelling well after three out. Moreover, not only was his winning time the best hurdle performance on the stellar card, his final lap time was over three seconds quicker (roughly 15 lengths) than Envoi Allen and four seconds (20 lengths) than the handicap hurdle won by Janidil over the same C&D, which suggests for juveniles, they had gone really hard from flag fall and maintained a pretty brutal pace up throughout. Bought by JP McManus subsequently to race in the famous green and gold colours, the legendary owner isn’t backwards in coming forwards when selectively adding to his battalions and he will be hoping, having shelled out a tidy packet for this improving three-year-old, that he can continue to work his way up the rankings and eventually find himself a genuine Triumph Hurdle candidate come March, for which he’s currently a tall-looking 33-1 chance.

Bookmakers were never likely to offer any fancy odds about Envoi Allen given how well Gordon Elliot’s Champion Bumper winner scored on hurdles debut, but at the same time, the speed figure he posted wasn’t anything to get too excited about, so he’s passed over on value grounds in favour of MIDNIGHT RUN (best price 8-1), who did post a decent number at Cork last time.

Making his hurdling debut at the Co Mallow venue, the son of Well Chosen was strongly-fancied to topple market leader, Coolreevy, off the back of a previously impressive bumper success, and the market got it spot on as he pulled readily clear of his main rival to win in convincing fashion. As stated, the winning time was good for a maiden hurdle and, with the well-beaten third scoring at Fairyhouse yesterday, the form looks even better than it probably did to many judges at the time. An honest sort who has only suffered one defeat at the hands of Envoi Allen in a listed bumper at Navan, he rates the solid each-way alternative based on the theory of wherever the favourite finishes, he should be somewhere in the same vicinity.  

As good a Grade 1 novice chase as you are likely to see pre-Christmas with six exciting and talented performers on show, and although both Samcro and Fakir D’Oudairies deserve all the attention down the front end of the market, it would be dangerous to forget the claims of RONALD PUMP (best price 7-1) based on his brilliant display over today’s course on chasing debut.

A massive improver last season when upped in trip, Matthew Smith’s gelding rounded off the campaign with a smooth victory in the EBF Final at the Co Meath venue and he ended up being put away for the summer with a rating of 145. Embarking on his new discipline in what, on paper, looked a red-hot affair, the six-year-old totally ripped apart a stellar field with a good burst of speed after jumping the last and, with the winning time figure backing up the visual aspect of the display, he clearly ran to a decent standard. Of those beaten that day, the runner-up and fourth have both run well in similar contests since and, as the son of Schiaparelli seems to have a sound jumping technique and is unbeaten on his last three visits to his local course, he should in no way be underestimated. Of the big two in the market, Fakir D’Oudairies makes the most appeal, as his sound-jumping success at Navan on chasing debut amounts to fair more than what Samcro achieved on the numbers on his opening bow at Down Royal.