Andy Holding's Sunday Racing Tips

DON’T TELL CLAIRE (best price 4-1) may have been a 100-1 chance last time out at Chelmsford, but that didn’t stop her running a tremendous race at the Essex venue and with no semblance of a fluke attached to that performance – backed up by the useful speed figure – Daniel Kubler’s filly is fancied to go close to breaking her maiden tag. Despite being drawn two in that well-run affair ten days ago, the daughter of Gutaifan somehow managed to end up stuck out wide having to cover the most ground rounding the home turn so it was to her great credit, therefore, she kept on really strongly for pressure to force a photo close home. As the winner and third had already shown a fair level of form prior to the contest, it’s probably a reasonable guess to suggest she ran to a figure around the 80 mark and if she continues along the same path for the foreseeable future, a few races look set to come her way.

The race won by Bucky Larson at Gowran 10 days ago was noted for its competitive nature and strong time figure and having both caught the eye in behind the main players, both SIR JACK THOMAS (best price 9-2) and STORMY BELLE (best price 8-1) make plenty of appeal to improve on their eventual finishing positions at the Co Kenny venue.

The former fared best of the pair finishing fourth, but had he been a little better positioned throughout the race, there might have been a more productive outcome. Coming home best of all down the wide outside, Ado McGuinness’ gelding took the scalps of some decent handicappers inside the final two furlongs and considering it was his first outing for 98 days, there had to be plenty of encouragement gleaned from his performance. Although not a frequent winner by any stretch of the imagination, the Grey son of Fast Company always manages to win in his turn at least once a season, and having dropped to a mark which has seen him victorious three times in the past, he has every chance of adding to that tally at a track where he has gone well before.

The latter was easily the unluckiest by far in the aforementioned contest and for that reason she probably deserves a little more respect than the market affords her. Held up going well down the inside, Pat Fahy’s mare unfortunately got trapped in a pocket for the thick end of two furlongs and in the end, jockey Shane Foley just excepted the situation and eased up on his mount once all chance Had gone. Where she would have finished is anyone’s guess, but it’s safe to say she would have been a significant player given the way she was travelling at the time and that has to be factor when analysing her chances this afternoon. Fourth in a competitive handicap on her final start of last season over today’s C&D, she clearly doesn’t mind the layoff of the Dublin venue and with most of her best form coming when there’s a little give underfoot, the forecast showers in the area won’t harm her cause.

PATRICK SARSFIELD (NAP) (best price 7-4) had to sit on the touchline and watch on from afar as the Irish Lincolnshire took place without him (second reserve) but compensation awaits – albeit on a slightly smaller scale – in this concluding handicap. Although this appears a competitive enough affair on paper, there’s a decent chance Joseph O’Brien’s gelding could make a mockery of his mark based on what we’ve seen of him so far and it could be just a case of fitness being the only thing that prevents him from proving that theory correct first time from a 243-day break. Although it took him four runs to eventually get off the mark, a point no doubt some of his potential layers in-waiting with have noticed, the son of Australia had been tackling some top-class company in maidens that contained the likes of Madhmoon (rated 117), Sydney Opera House (109), Norway (111) and Japan (122), so it would be very harsh to throw cold water over him considering some of the tasks he faced. Looking for all the world like he was about to score at the third time of asking at Cork until the fast-finishing Dance Jupiter (now also in the care of this yard) picked his pocket late on, the four-year-old made no mistake on his next and final start of the campaign back in October. Backed at all rates down to 1-5 in a weak-looking race at the Curragh, he readily got off the mark at the fourth time of asking and in doing so he won in the style of a potentially pattern race performer of the future. Going into that contest at the Co Kildare venue with an official rating of 86, the assessor saw fit to leave him on that mark, a decision he might live to regret, and this big, strapping individual who carries plenty of presence, will hopefully take this prize before going on to better things.