Andy Holding's Sunday Racing Tips

There’s a strong possibility that Aloomomo might be capable of better now reverting back to fences on just his second outing for new connections, but either way, he’ll have to be right on top of his game to contend with MR MCGO (best price 4-1) if he runs anywhere near the standard he did last time out at Kempton.

In what turned out to be a strongly-run affair at the Surrey venue, Donald McCain’s gelding raced just in behind the pace until inheriting the lead when Roll Again fell down the back straight and, as it turned out, that manoeuvre ended up backfiring on him as he paid for those exertions late on. That said, even being beaten 11 lengths by Commanche Red, who ran the last circuit quicker than King George winner, Clan Des Obeaux, still stacks up well in context of today’s race and with most of his best performances coming via a testing surface, everything looks set fair for a bold show.

SPEAK EASY (best price 11-2) shaped with plenty of encouragement on his chasing debut at Fairyhouse and he looks the one most likely to provide favourite, Carefully Selected, with the biggest headache.

In what turned out to be an extremely hot contest first time out at the Co Meath venue, Joseph O’Brien’s gelding kept on well from two out to finish a never-nearer third behind subsequent Drinmore runner-up, Ronald Pump, and that effort represents a level of performance that certainly entitled connections to be thinking the son of Beneficial belongs in Graded company. Indeed, it’s worth pointing out that Joseph O’Brien’s inmate was a late withdrawal from the Grade 1 Neville Hotels Novices’ Chase at Leopardstown recently, so the mere fact he was thought good enough to mix it with some of the very best novices so far this season is fair barometer of the regard he’s held in at home. Based on all his previous performances, 2m4f on soft ground suits him best and he rates a decent bet in the ‘with and without favourite’ markets. Of the others, City Island will have to jump a good deal better than he did on his chase debut to justify his position in the market, while both Dallas Des Picton and Lord Schnitzel got battered 66 lengths between them on their latest starts.

On a line through Makambe, there’s not a lot between recent winners JAZZ HANDS (best price 3-1) and Silverturnstogold, but as the former has a fitness advantage over the latter, who hasn’t run for 44 days, Richard Fahey’s gelding is taken to uphold his unbeaten record at today’s track.

Successful on his first start over the C&D in first-time cheekpieces back in October, the son of Red Jazz once again proved his liking for the fibresand surface when scoring by a narrow margin in Class 5 company for the first time and it was a similar story on his return visit here last time. Niggled along rounding the home turn, the four-year-old impressed by how much he found off the bridle down the straight and, in the end, he actually scored with a bit to spare. Clearly a strong stayer at the trip with a likeable attitude, he can take the step up in class in his stride.