Andy Holding's Sunday Racing Tips

Some smart fillies by to post for this competitive Group 2 contest, especially from the classic generation, and of those from that age-group, THUNDERING NIGHTS (best price 8-1) and ZAWARA (best price 20-1) make the most appeal at the morning odds.

The former has made steady progression all season and following a smooth success in handicap company at Leopardstown on her second outing of the campaign, she proved she belonged at pattern level with a victory over the top class filly Albigna here last time out. Despite being forced to race slightly wider than ideal because of a tricky draw, she still found the necessary turn of foot when required in the latter stages to keep her main market rival at bay and with her backend sectionals also reading well compared to the rest of the card, she showed an extra dimension to her game. Equally at home off a strong gallop on better ground, a good draw and the slightly longer trip should all add up to see her once again outrun her position in the market.

The latter hasn’t proven herself in this company as of yet, but she certainly deserves a shot based on the time figure she achieved and the opponent she beat at Naas last time out. Up against Derby fourth, Amhran Na Bhfiann, at the Co Kildare venue, Dermot Weld’s filly impressed with the way she travelled in behind the odds-on favourite (8-15) throughout and then when asked to seal the deal in the latter stages, she found the necessary change of gear to scamper clear of her much-vaunted rival. With the numbers of the race very good and the pair well clear of several who have gone on to boost the form since, the daughter of Dubawi clearly ran a good deal better than the handicapper’s assessment of 95 (Amhran Na Bhfiann rated 110) and that’s probably why the bookmakers have underestimated her chance her today by sticking her in here at 20-1 on the morning tissues. With more improvement likely to be forthcoming, she too makes plenty of sense from an each-way perspective.

There’s little doubt Pretty Gorgeous is the benchmark here given her smooth victory over some of the best fillies of her generation here last time out and she looks certain to confirm form with her old rival Shale, but the big fly in the ointment today could stem from TERESA MENDOZA (best price 7-1) who has looked every inch a Group 1 filly ever since she impressed here on her debut back in July and she’s strongly fancied to hammer home that theory in her biggest test to date. Clocking a big number over six furlongs at the Co Kildare venue, she beat a colt in the shape of Monaasib who has gone on to endorse the form several times over and it was no surprise to see her all the rage to vindicate that initial impression in the Group 3 Round Tower Stakes on her return visit a month later. Having travelled equally as well throughout, Ken Condon’s filly ended up just being out-battled in the closing stages by shock winner New Treasure, but it was still a smart effort in defeat and the evidence of the clock certainly backed up that view. Leaving the impression that the heavy ground 16 days ago rather blunted her turn of foot, the daughter of Territories is now back on a surface that should allow her to show her true worth and with her high cruising speed likely to carry her deep into the business end of the race, hopefully her challenge can be timed to perfection.

A snorter of a Group 1 juvenile contest with many of the best two-year-old form lines represented from either side of the Irish Sea and of those of the home contingent, THUNDER MOON (best price 17-2) and LAWS OF INDICES (best price 25-1) provide the best options in the way of early morning value.

The former is a little tricky to assess against some the more established models being a winner of his only start, but there was enough meat on the bones based on his C&D success to suggest he won’t be a million miles away here this afternoon. Despite running over a furlong further than winner of the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes hero Lucky Vega, the son of Zoffany managed to run the last three furlongs half a second quicker than Jessica Harrington’s top-class colt, so based on those findings, there’s simply no way he should be chalked up at three times the price of the market leader. Drawn one, he will have the luxury of racing handy over on the far side rail throughout the early stages and if he’s close to the pace at the intersection, his turn of foot is likely to ensure he plays a major role.

The latter seems to have been massively underestimated by the layers despite being extremely unlucky behind Lucky Vega and he has to be worth a small each-way interest to vindicate that view. A shock 66-1 winner over his old rival on their first clash here back in July, Ken Condon’s colt was a good deal shorter in the betting on his return to the Co Kildare venue last time out, but unfortunately any chance he may have had evaporated at the start as he was extremely slowly away. To his great credit, he rallied well to the cause and ended up finishing a respectable fourth and with a level break this time around, surely he will run better than his 25-1 quotes suggests.

Easily one of the toughest handicaps I’ve ever come across in all my time watching Irish racing, but being someone who likes a challenge my I present forward SONNYBOYLISTON (best price 7-1) and FINANS BAY (best price 14-1) as two against the field.

The former is a really likeable three-year-old who has dined at the top table in regards to races of this nature so far this term and his latest win over today’s reads about as well as any form lines coming in here. His victory over subsequent Group 3 winner Thundering Nights is a solid piece of form and his run the time before when third to the improving Delphi also comes out well on the figures. A C&D winner with a lovely attitude, ground to suit and hailing from a top yard, it would be disappointing if Johnny Murtagh’s colt couldn’t keep his upward curve going in the right direction.

The latter left the impression based on his first two starts this season over today’s track that he required further than a mile and he duly vindicated that view with a cosy success over a 1m1f at Leopardstown last time out. The way he carries himself through his races strongly suggests he will be well-suited by a strongly-run handicap and off a mark of 92, he should turn out to be fully effective.