Andy Holding's Sunday Racing Tips

Some big and established names take centre stage in what looks one of the races of the four-day meeting, but there’s an outside chance that one of the lesser known runners, IRASCIBLE (best price 30-1), may be good enough to upset the applecart to a certain degree.

Having his first outing for new connections in a maiden hurdle at Clonmel after just the one run in a point, Henry De Bromhead’s gelding attracted plenty of support prior to the off in what looked an above-average race by the track standards and having been held up off the pace early, he came through late on to justify the confidence behind him with a bit to spare. Clocking a decent time, the son of Jukebox Jury might have been expected to go for a little novice race somewhere just to gain a bit more experience, but the fact that his connections feel he’s good enough to go straight into Grade 1 company on only his second outing over hurdles is enough to suggest they think he will be equal to the task.

As ever, the usual mix of established and young up-and-coming chasers meet head on in this traditional and sought-after prize and of those in the latter category, TEN TEN (best price 14-1) appeals as one who could easily make some sort of impact in a race of this nature.

Lightly-raced with just the nine career starts, the son of Flemensfirth has kept fairly good company since switching to fences and with the best of his five attempts over the larger obstacles coming when he landed a beginners chase over 2m4f at Navan last season, there’s a decent chance he could improve significantly for today’s extra half a mile. The fact the seven-year-old’s powder has been kept fairly dry since strongly suggest connections have had a race like this in mind for him for quite some time and with that all-important pipe-opener over hurdles off the back of a 263-day break likely to have benefitted him in all departments, he should give a good account with a clear round.

PRIORITISE (best price 14-1) made a pleasing debut at Kempton 53 days ago against some pretty hot properties and with that initial experience behind her, she should easily be good enough to put that all-important knowledge to full use in this similar heat.

Quietly-fancied to go well on her opening bow at the Sunbury circuit, the daughter of Camelot could never land a meaningful blow at the main players, but considering the race was run at a searching pace and the backend sectionals were also very strong for the grade, it was little wonder she could only manage a mid-division finish. That said, the race in question has worked out to such a degree that even getting beaten ten lengths wasn’t as bad as it seemed at the time and with just normal improvement forthcoming, hopefully James Tate’s filly wil prove good enough to make the frame at the very least.

CADZAND (best price 7-2) impressed with the manner of how he disposed of the useful Twominutes Turkish at Warwick last time and being a horse who seems to possess a fair deal of pace, Dan Skelton’s gelding can be seen to really good effect around today’s sharp two miles. 

Useful in bumpers, the son of Stowaway made a pleasing start to his hurdling career when a creditable runner-up to the smart Do Your Job at Ayr in October and that initial outing certainly made all the difference with regards to how he finished off his race at the Midland venue a month later. Despite conceding early track position to his main market rival, the five-year-old still managed to cut him down to size in the latter stages and with the clock also pointing towards it being a fine effort in every regard, he can make an immediate impression in this new sphere off an opening mark of 129.