Andy Holding's Sunday Racing Tips

MERRY MISTRESS (best price 6-1) was in the process of running big race on her hurdling debut at Worcester last time out and she should make a bold bid in her quest to gain compensation on ground that will suit.

An impressive winner of a bumper at Hereford on her debut when in the care of Tom Symonds, the daughter of Getaway turned out to be a big disappointment in two listed events at Market Rasen and Newbury, so it was good to see her show a good deal more in her final outing in that sphere at Cheltenham. Sent over hurdles for the first time at the Midland venue 18 days ago, Matt Shepherd’s mare impressed with the way she travelled throughout and she was just to throw down what looked like a potent challenge when she dived and sprawled on landing at the third last, thus ending any chance she had of winning. Plugging on to finish a creditable but remote fourth, the five-year-old left the impression she would have played a significant role in the finish but for that untimely blunder and providing her confidence hasn’t been unduly effected, she should prove good enough to make some sort of impact in this similar contest.

As is often the case, a change of scenery can work wonders with certain National Hunt horses and CAPTAIN TOMMY (best price 8-1), who won tidily for his new handler David Bridgwater here last time, is fancied to continue on the same track despite dropping back down in trip for this valuable 2m4f handicap.

Useful but frustrating for Harry Whittington since winning back-to-back races in 2019, the seven-year-old was moved on to pastures new after finishing fourth of five in a hurdle contest at Taunton a month ago and after just spending little over a week at his new Gloucester base, he duly went and popped up in a valuable heat over today’s course. Impressing with the way he moved throughout the three-mile journey, the son of Court Cave clocked a decent speed figure in defeating several in-form chasers and it was noticeable that he also managed to run a very smart final circuit time in comparison to the two other chase races on the same card. Based on that evidence from 29 days ago, he shouldn’t, therefore, have too much trouble dropping back down in trip and with today’s good ground also seen as a positive, he makes plenty of each-way appeal with some firms offering five and even six places.

LISSEN TO THE LADY (best price 10-3) clocked a fair time figure for the grade here last time out and she remains one to keep on side in her bid to make it three wins in her last four starts.

A gutsy winner when coming from a fair way back at Carlisle three starts ago, just found the combination of three miles on soft ground a bridge too far at Perth next time out, but nonetheless, it was still a fair enough effort by Sandy Forster’s mare. In-keeping with her sire, Fame And Glory, she proved an altogether different proposition back on genuine good ground here last time, staying on

well to claim the prize on the long run uphill to the line, and with conditions almost identical for her return to the Borders venue, she looks poised give it another good rip.

NUSRA (best price 16-1) has yet to set the world on fire in three starts to date, but there was more than enough promise in her latest outing over today’s course to suggest she’s worth a few quid on handicap debut.

Down the field in a couple of all-weather claimers at Dundalk, 150-1 was a fair reflection of her chances in a salty little maiden at the Co Kenny venue 25 days ago and although she could only manage to finish in mid-division, there was a lot to like about the way she shaped against some pretty useful fillies. Held up by design due to her wide draw, the daughter of Finsceal Fior found herself in last position as the main pack came downhill into the home straight, but from that point onwards she stayed on in taking fashion to pass half the field without being subject to anything like a hard ride. Clearly much better on the rain-softened turf than the synthetic surface she faced previously, Edward O’Grady’s filly has been handed a mark which is more than workable and hailing from a classy outfit which is enjoying a fair degree of success of late, she can play her part in keeping the good run going for her Ballynonty handler.