Andy Holding's Sunday Racing Tips

ALPHA MIX (best price 11-2) got a proper dusting down by the hugely-impressive Blackbow on his chasing debut at Navan, but at the same time there was enough encouragement to give him the benefit of the doubt going forward and now racing over a trip which should allow him to be far more competitive on his second attempt, he rates the value each-way pick against the short-price, but not unbeatable favourite, Captain Guinness (pulled and disappointing on chase debut).

A progressive hurdler last season, Gavin Cromwell’s gelding has always had the make and shape of a chaser and on the evidence of what we saw at the Co Meath venue, he should easily be capable of at least matching, if not bettering his achievements over the smaller obstacles. For a horse who finished a creditable seventh in the Coral Cup, two miles was always going to be on the sharp side, even more so after a 256-day break, but now up in trip and with that all-important experience of fencing at pace under his belt, we should see him in a much better light here this afternoon.

Overnight rain and the fact this staying contest has now been put on as the last race on the card ensure the four miles of this journey is going to take plenty of getting and that scenario should suit last year’s winner BIGIRONONHISHIP (best price 11-2).

Lightly-raced for a nine-year-old, Rose Dobbin’s gelding only had two races last season, but as both were successful, it’s clear that when he does make the track he’s a pretty useful performer. Excelling over this trip for the first time here twelve months ago when he stayed on too strongly for one of today’s rivals, Just Your Type, the son of Beneficial warmed up nicely for a repeat bid with a solid effort over three miles at Ayr after a 339-day break and hailing from a yard who increased their strike rate so far this term, he makes plenty of appeal under ideal conditions.