Andy Holding's Sunday Racing Tips

NEO SOUL (best price 11-4) just didn’t quite have the tactical speed to cope with the blistering pace set at Naas last time out, but in what are likely to prove much calmer waters here this afternoon, Ger Lyons’ colt rates a confident choice to put his experience to good use.

 Not knocked about on his debut at the Co Kildare venue, the son of Kodiac was a little easier to back in what appeared an above-average affair on paper on his return visit and although he only managed to finish one place better, his standard of performance went up several notches. In what turned out to be an extremely strongly run race courtesy of Orinoco River setting off as if his tail was on fire, he found himself taken off his feet in the early stages, but in the last two furlongs he really began to find his stride. Once meeting the rising ground, he ran on strongly to nick third close home and that display resulted in him posting a very smart speed figure despite his three-length defeat. Getting better with each run, Neo Soul certainly shapes like he will require six furlongs or beyond to be seen at his best, but at the same time, he’s already shown he has enough basic speed to win a race over the minimum trip and with his overall form levels seemingly much stronger than the one achieved by My Eyes Adore You at Cork on her debut, this sturdy juvenile easily rates the pick of the pair at the morning odds. 

A good deal depends on whether the forecast rain (due to come after lunchtime) comes in time for BARRINGTON COURT (best price 13-2), but providing connections feel as though there’s sufficient ease in the ground to allow her to take her chance, Jessica Harrington’s mare has bright prospects of providing her white-hot handler with another big payday. 

A super-talented mare when conditions are in her favour, the daughter of Mastercraftsman was prevented from fulfilling her main objective of the season, The Irish St Leger, due to fast ground here at the last meeting, so today’s offering is seen as some sort of compensation. A real Autumn filly, the seven-year-old produced a terrific effort in this race last year when staying on strongly to finish second to Dawn Patrol and she went on to confirm her wellbeing with two listed victories at Naas towards the tail end of the campaign. So far, she’s just had the two outing this season and with the latest of the pair coming with an eye-catching display in an arguably deeper contest to today’s, there would only need there to decent cushion in the ground for her to make a big impact on the final outcome. 

MARLAY PARK (best price 5-1) has developed into a bit of a course specialist in recent times and following a deserved win after a series of fine placed efforts previously, Jim Boyle’s gelding looks destined to run another big race at a track that clearly plays into his strengths. 

Runner-up on his first start here behind stable mate Otago back in July, the son of Cable Bay just found the drop back in trip counting against when filling out the same position on his return visit a month later. Back up to seven-furlongs last time, the three-year-old was once again settled towards the rear of the field but this time he had sufficient time to find top stride and once delivering his challenge over a furlong out, he stayed on extremely strongly late on to score going away. Clocking a fast speed figure into the bargain, this fairly consistent performer should be capable of making his presence felt again if running to a similar standard.