Andy Holding's Sunday Racing Tips

SPRUCED UP (best price 7-2) was heavily involved in a mares’ handicap verging on listed here last time out and a repeat of the same level of form should ensure Edward Harty’s inmate is right in the thick of the action again on her return to the Dublin track.

A smooth winner when well-supported to take advantage of what looked a fair mark at Fairyhouse back in January, the daughter of Oscar was rather pitched in to the deep end at the big two-day festival here a month later, but as it turned out, she totally justified her participation in such a competitive race by finishing a close-up fourth. In a strongly-run affair, the six-year-old mare was quite comfortable going the pace from the outset and although she kept on well enough after the last, she left the impression that 2m2f in that environment just stretched her to the limit. As the winner that day, Black Tears, and third, Concertista, are likely to be contenders for Cheltenham Festival glory next week, it just shows what kind of opposition she faced 26 days ago and with today’s line-up not having the same amount of strength in depth as that 27-strong field, she should go very close to regaining the winning thread.

BATCIO (NAP) (best price 6-4) unfortunately crashed out when still in contention over today’s C&D last time out, but providing he hasn’t any lasting effects from that untimely tumble, Ted Walsh’s gelding should make a bold fist of getting back on track.

The son of Monmartre got his first taste of life in the fast lane when contesting a 16-runner handicap at the Dublin venue on Boxing Day and having led the field a merry dance and looking the likely winner for majority of the journey, it was a huge disappointment to all concerned that he got his pocket picked by Drumconnor Lad late on. Adopting similar aggressive tactics on his return visit two months later, the eight-year-old grey was still going well enough in the lead until falling two out to suggest he would have had some sort of say in the argument and with today’s less competitive field seen as a blessing as far as his exuberant style of racing is concerned, he’s strongly fancied to serve it up from the front.