Andy Holding's Sunday Racing Tips

FOSTER’SISLAND (NAP) (best price 15-8) has been nothing short of a revelation based on his last two performances and returning to a track which saw him kick off his winning sequence in devastating fashion, Micky Hammond’s gelding is strongly fancied to complete the hat trick.

Arriving at the Cumbrian venue following a promising display in a jumper’s bumper, the son of Trans island was well supported to get off the mark at the ninth time of asking and after travelling strongly throughout, he went on to justify his position in the market with some ease. The way he tanked his way through the contest before being heavily eased in the closing stages suggested he was someway ahead of his mark at the time and it was no surprise, therefore, to see him follow up under a penalty at Newcastle five days later. Once again dominant throughout, the six-year-old this time had 20 lengths to spare over his rivals and with the time figure very good for the grade and the runner-up up scoring easily at Hexham in the week, this progressive handicapper still could be significantly underestimated by the assessor.

A decent turnout for this rated hurdle contest with the likes of recent winners Mitchouka and Coach Carter adding some extra spice to proceedings, but they might have their work cut out to cope with RASIM (best price 7-1) if he’s somewhere near his best after a 177-day break.

The last time we saw Edward O’Grady’s gelding was when he finished a creditable fourth behind Drop The Anchor at the Listowel Festival, but considering how well that race has worked out since, he would only have to run somewhere near a similar standard to figure in a race of this nature. Prior to that solid effort, the son of Reliable Man had also proved his liking for today’s track when fourth over the C&D a month earlier and with an overall record off a layoff of more than 100 days to suggest he goes well fresh, the reliable six-year-old can reward each-way support.

Ado McGuinness made a habit of plundering big handicap pots last season, including this very race twelve months ago with Bowerman, and in the shape of CASANOVA (best price 12-1), the Co Dublin handler looks to have bright prospects of adding to his already impressive tally.

Progressive in the middle part of 2019 with back-to-back wins for John Gosden, the son of Frankel rather lost his way on his final three starts for the Newmarket handler and he was subsequently bought at the HIT sale last year for just 15k by current connections in a bid to bring him back to life.

Having his first run for 443 days at Dundalk back in January, the five-year-old faced a bunch of in-form and race-fit rivals, including the unbeaten Whatharm, and although he couldn’t quite match the track specialist, he did more than enough to suggest he could turn out to be an extremely wise investment. Dropped out towards the rear at the Co Lough venue, he stayed on strongly in the latter stages to finish within two lengths of the eventual winner and with the time figure and sectionals pointing heavily towards the race being a very strong one in terms of track form, his performance stacks up really well. Sure to prove all the better for that initial outing, today’s extra furlong should see him in a better light and having finish a close-up fifth in one of those red-hot straight track handicap run at Ascot two years ago off a higher mark, there’s every reason to believe he will suited to the rigours of today’s heat.

Another trainer in the limelight of late courtesy of his exploits with The Shunter is Emmet Mullins and his representative here, GEE REX (best price 9-2), looks to have bright prospects of keeping the status quo.

A dual winner for Joseph O’Brien on the Flat last season, the five-year-old appeared a rather audacious acquisition by current connections after he won a claimer at Dundalk in October, but as things have transpired, the purchase could well turn out to be an inspired one. Whether he was specifically bought to go jumping is hard to say, but either way, he’s made a decent fist of his new vocation, finishing runner-up on his last two starts at Leopardstown. As both of those last two performances have highlighted his current wellbeing, he can carry his fitness over to today’s demanding examination and having already proved his suitability to the C&D with a smooth win and an unlucky fifth here last season, the son of Requinto looks sure to go well whichever way you strip it down.