Andy Holding's Sunday Racing Tips

Back Elanora at 13-2

ELANORA (best price 13-2) did about as well as could be expected given how the draw panned out here last time out and now potentially housed in a more favourable part of the track, Michael Grassick’s filly looks primed to go close in her bid to shed her maiden tag.

Shaping well on her debut in a hot maiden at the Curragh behind subsequent Dewhurst winner, St Marks Basilica, the daughter of No Nay Never understandably proved unequal to the task at hand on her next start at the Co Kildare venue, finding the combination of Group 1 company and fast ground all too much a month later. In much calmer waters last time, she stayed on strongly in the latter stages to finish a creditable runner-up to the useful Elizabethan and when you considered she finished miles clear of all those housed towards the far side rail, her performance deserves a special upgrade. Returning to the scene of that cracking effort, Elanora has been handed what is usually a beneficial stall position based on the draw stats on the straight track here at this time of year on soft ground and with her experience and ability to handle the ground also seen as a massive plus, she rates a confident choice to hit the frame at the very least.

Back Team Of Firsts at 4-1

King Of The Castle made a pleasing start to his career at Gowran and looks sure to attract the attention of many, but being parked out on lane eight in stall 19 won’t make life easy and when you take into account her faces the better drawn TEAM OF FIRSTS (best price 4-1), Aidan O’Brien’s colt will do well to beat a horse who has just as strong credentials.

Making his debut at Navan a month ago, Ger Lyon’s colt immediately found himself on the back foot by taking a while to find his stride but once he found top gear in the home straight you could see all the ability in the world was there as he flashed home to finish a never-nearer fourth behind several who already had vital experience. Given how hard he hit the line, one would imagine there will be a good deal more forthcoming in terms of improvement on his second outing and a good break from stall 4 should leave him in a position whereby he can be challenging for top honours in the latter stages.

Back Ragnor Lobrok at 2-1

Gordon Elliott has enjoyed a couple of days to remember at Down Royal with some of his better novices creating favourable impressions in victory and his good run looks set to continue in this listed race courtesy of the equally promising RAGNOR LOBROK (NAP) (best price 2-1).

Placed in a couple of above-average bumpers in fairly quick succession last December, the son of Fame And Glory was put away with the view of a more productive campaign over hurdles and true enough, he began in the best possible style by powering to victory at Galway over several useful opponents. Indeed, if the time figure is an accurate guide to his performance at Ballybrit, the five-year-old already looks ready for a tilt at something more substantial and with today’s step up in trip also likely to see him in an even better light, he makes plenty of appeal at his morning odds.

Back Huddle Up at 9-1 and True Artist at 16-1

A competitive-looking nursery but HUDDLE UP (best price 9-1) and TRUE ARTIST (best price 16-1) have both done enough to suggest they can feature and outrun their morning odds.

The former could never land a blow in the final of the EBF series over today’s C&D last time out, but when you consider who featured in that strong heat and the eventual speed figure, a close-up sixth against several rated in the 100’s probably wasn’t a bad return in the scheme of things. Back to the scene of that terrific effort and a lover of heavy ground, Willie McCreery’s gelding looks sure to go well.

The latter has shaped better than his finishing position has suggested on his last two starts and he doesn’t appear to be too badly handicapped on his first try in this sphere. Racing in a hot maiden at the Curragh when last seen, Gerard O’Leary’s gelding had plenty on his plate as the main bulk of the field headed past the halfway stage, but picking up nicely from the rear inside the final three furlongs, he stayed on in taking fashion to finish a never-nearer sixth. Filling out the same position in an ultra-tough sales race at the same venue the t6ime before, both efforts represent a fair level of form in the context of today’s race and there’s simply no way he should be chalked up at 33-1 based on what we’ve seen of him so far.