Andy Holding's Sunday's Racing Tips

MOLE TRAP (best price 15-2) got no further than the first when a slipping saddle derailed her bid to follow up her previous success at Hereford and she’s afforded another chance to prove that 22-1 shock was no fluke.

Off the track for 571-days previously, there obviously had to be a certain amount of doubt as to whether she would be fully tuned up to do herself justice, but in beating a competitive field in game fashion at the Midland venue, she cast aside any issues she might had had beforehand regarding her fitness. Only raised 5lb in the ratings for that shock victory, the daughter of Kayf Tara went to the Surrey venue with plenty of confidence behind her, so to suffer at the hands of a tack malfunction was a bitter pill to swallow for those that piled in from 13-2 to all rates down to 10-3. Looking back at her victory a month ago, the third horse home, Massini’s Dream, enhanced the form and speed figure with a win at Fakenham in midweek and with today’s test likely to prove right up her street, the eight-year-old can take advantage of what still appears a lenient mark.

Carefully Selected has really taken well to the chasing game based on his two victories in his new discipline so far to date and is likely to be tough to beat with a clear round, but at the same time, he does face an opponent in the shape of RONALD PUMP (best price 2-1) who also has a bucket-load of talent and at the prices, Matthew Smith’s gelding rates the value call to cause a mini upset.

Winner of the EBF Final at Fairyhouse last season, Matthew Smith’s gelding was sent back to the Co Meath venue for his chasing debut and, having jumped and travelled well throughout, he readily pulled clear of a useful field in a fast time. Pitched straight into Grade 1 company in the Drinmore back over the same C&D, the son of Schiaparelli was still in contention when a notable error four from home put paid to any chances of him winning and although he ended up keeping on well to finish a creditable second, that finishing position came about largely due to the fact Samcro capsized two out. Sent back over hurdles last time out, the seven-year-old qualified for the final of the Pertemps series with a tremendous effort under joint top weight by finishing powerfully in to second from the back of the field and when you consider how strong the final circuit of that race was compared to the one posted by Apples Jade, it puts into context how well he ran at the Dublin track. Indeed, looking at those lap sectionals in isolation (over 40 lengths quicker than the likes of Apples Jade, Unowhatimeanharry, Penhill and Bacardys), it very much suggests this diminutive chestnut has an engine and stamina that strongly suggests he wouldn’t be out of place in a big Grade 1 hurdle one day, and reading what the trainer says in his article in today’s Racing Post, he might be Stayers Hurdle bound if he doesn’t at least put it up to the favourite here this afternoon.

A trappy-looking handicap on paper, but both BYTHESAMETOKEN (best price 9-1) and LIKE AN OPEN BOOK (best price 12-1) have enough solidity about their form to warrant an interest at their respective morning odds.

The former failed to make a massive impact in a competitive contest at Leopardstown last time out, but as things didn’t quite pan out as well as expected, Ross O’Sullivan’s inmate can prove a much more dangerous weapon than his odds imply. Held up to get the trip at the Dublin venue, the son of Fame And Glory not only got badly hampered by a faller halfway down the back straight, he also suffered interference rounding the home bend and, as a result, he didn’t quite have enough left in the tank to get to the main players in the closing stages. Prior to that commendable display, the six-year-old travelled all over his field before quickening away with a good deal to spare in a similar race to today’s at Navan, and with a big-field, well-run race over two miles on soft ground seemingly his optimum conditions, he simply has to be worth a punt at 10-1.

The latter isn’t easy to win with, but she does have a level of form that suggests she has more than a fair chance of being competitive if she can stay on her feet. A horse that is more often than not completely switched off and dropped out well off the pace, those usual tactics were employed on her latest start at Thurles seven days ago and it looked as though the patient ride was going to bear fruit. Unfortunately, she stepped at the second last when just about to mount what appeared like a winning challenge and took a nasty-looking fall. Hopefully, the daughter of Well Chosen will be none the worse for that tumble as that effort, along with several others previous entitle her to more respect than the market affords her. A close-up third behind Thomas Hobson and Band Of Outlaws in a Grade 3 at Tipperary back in July and when filling out the same position in a 20-strong mares’ handicap at the Galway Festival later in the same month are just a couple of performances that show her true worth and even though there’s a sneaky suspicion that racing right-handed suits her best, she still has to be worth a shy at the stumps just in case.

KAYMAR (best price 8-1) ran a respectable race in a novice hurdle that has worked out as well as the speed figure suggested it might at Warwick back in November and he looks way overpriced on the basis of that performance 79 days ago.

Runner-up in a bumper at Worcester in the summer, Nicky Henderson’s inmate was fairly easy to back at the Midland venue five months later and although the market eventually got it right, it shouldn’t detract from his overall performance. His losing margin may have been 24 lengths, but when you consider the likes of West Cork (won twice since), Espoir De Romay (second), Hometown Boy (won), Kalooki (won) were the main four ahead of him that day, it just puts into some context the task he faced. Although it’s a slight unknown as to whether today’s soft ground will suit, his morning odds more than compensate for the risk and either way, he’s one to keep on side going forward.