Andy Holding's Sunday Racing Tips

ALPHA MIX (best price 13-2) left the impression he’s very much a young horse still on the upgrade at Punchestown last time out and, in a race where there are serious question marks about many of the leading players, the four-year-old can strike another notable blow for his local trainer.

A very easy winner under testing conditions at Tramore two starts ago, Gavin Cromwell’s inmate was surprisingly easy to back for his latest assignment at the Co Kildare venue and although the market ended up getting it right, it was probably more by luck than judgement. Given what can only be described as an odd ride, the son of Fair Mix inexplicably lost his place rounding the home turn before running on strongly on the run to the line without being unduly punished and with today’s extra yardage likely to suit considering how well he was going on at the finish 29 days ago, he’s strongly fancied to add yet another layer to the solid form of that useful novice event (winner and third both won since).

DINNY LACEY (NAP) (best price 13-8) shaped with loads encouragement over today’s C&D last month and, with expected improvement likely to be forthcoming, James Motherway’s inmate should turn out to be a massive player on his return visit.

A winner of a Punchestown bumper last season, the five-year-old was pitched into a pretty hot novice event for his opening gambit over hurdles and although he couldn’t quite live with the likes of the talented pair Thatsy and Entoucas, he more than held his own to finish on the coat tails of the ‘big two’ back in third.  Given the way he travelled into the straight in what turn out to be a fairly well-run contest for the conditions, it was probably a case of fitness telling after a 216-deay break more than anything else, but with that initial run likely to have blown away the cobwebs, the strapping son of Presenting rates one of the best bets on the card at this morning prices against the front two in the market who both have questions to answer.

AN FRAOCH MOR (best price 5-2) was always likely to find two miles too sharp on chasing debut, but the fact that he managed to finish so close to the useful Debuchet sends out positive vibes for the future and now racing over a more suitable trip, Ross O’Sullivan’s gelding should take high rank with a clear round.

Racing over three miles when last seen at Wexford, the lightly-raced six-year-old unsurprisingly got done for toe as the pace increased at the Co Meath track 26 days ago and although he clawed back some of the lost deficit late on, he could only manage a never-nearer second to a horse who basically had more tactical speed when it mattered. A real long-striding type who should be well-suited by today’s more galloping track, the Mahler gelding remains one to keep on side in this sphere.

SONG OF THE SKY (best price 5-1) was pulled up abruptly at an early stage with something clearly amiss at Uttoxeter last time out so, with that setback seen as purely a blip on the landscape, she’s worth another chance to regain the winning thread.

Prior to that unaccountable scenario, Charlie Mann’s mare had proven her wellbeing with a silky smooth display at Lingfield over fences and that went quite some way to making up for a series of solid placed efforts. The pick of those podium finishes came when she chased home subsequent winner, Sweet Adare, at Stratford, and with today’s testing conditions likely to suit the daughter of Rip Van Winkle more than most, she has every chance of getting the better of several sexier types.

REMEMBER THE MAN (best price 10-3) was set an impossible task at Hereford last time out but, as he did about as well as could be expected in the circumstances, he deserves another chance to vindicate the impression he created in a much stronger race the time before.

Quite strong in the market at the Midland venue 18 days ago, Neil King’s inmate was settled towards the rear of the field in the early stages and as it turned out, he simply had no chance of running down several up front who posted by quite some way the best final circuit sectionals on the hurdle track that afternoon. That said, his individual lap time of 3.03.4 was still much quicker than the likes of winners, Dhowin, Big Shark, and Sweet Adare and considering that all three are horses rated 125+, it just puts in to context what the son of Dalakhani achieved that day. Prior to that tremendous effort, the six-year-old gelding had come from a similarly uncompromising position to fill out the same spot behind the improving handicapper Flinck in another ultra-competitive affair at Warwick, so that’s back-to-back runs where he’s performed way better than his current mark suggests. Moreover, today’s small field size should ensure that he’s not having to make up the kind of ground on his rivals that has been the case in recent times and, with a decent amateur pilot to do the steering, Remember The Man has a golden opportunity to finally break his maiden tag over hurdles.