Andy Holding's Sunday Racing Tips

RAN RITE (best price 4-1) has still yet to register a victory in 13 starts, but it’s significant that three of his best races have all taken place at today’s venue and following another solid effort at the Co Tipperary track, David O’Brien’s gelding should be capable of breaking his duck.

Not so clever in the first-time cheekpices at Navan the time before, the headgear was given another try two weeks later and that perseverance paid dividends as the son of Dansant produced a career-high performance in chasing home the well-fancied Pairc Na Ngael. Very good on the numbers compared to the opening beginners chase fought out by West Cork Oscar and The Bosses Oscar, the form almost received the ultimate compliment with the third-placed Siberian Star going close at Navan yesterday and with today’s step up to three miles seen as a positive, another positive outcome looks on the cards.

Diavoli could easily turn out to be a blot on the handicap off an opening mark of 79, but whether she quite deserves to be so short in the betting is open to debate and at the process, she’s passed over in favour of FLATLEY (best price 11-2) who produced a career-high effort at Wolverhampton last time out.

Having his first start on the all-weather at the Midland venue, Adrian Wintle’s gelding was sent off the outsider of the seven-strong field but despite being dropped out from his wide draw and last as the field turned for home, he easily managed to outrun his odds with a performance to suggest he has a decent future on the synthetics. Indeed, given the way he hit the line 13 days ago, todays longer straight should suit even better and at the morning odds, he makes quite a bit of appeal in a race a little more wide open than the bookmakers will have you believe.

COASTAL WORLD (NAP) (best price 9-2) shaped a good deal better than his final finishing position suggested here last time out and he’s taken to confirm that impression on his return visit to the Co Tipperary venue.

Having his outing since scoring in easy fashion at Ballinrobe back in May (177-days off), the son of Coastal Path travelled really well against a useful bunch of promising young stayers and it was from only the long run down to the last did his effort peter out. Despite eventually been beaten 11 lengths, his overall speed figure still came out as his best so far to date and with the distinct likelihood of him being able to maintain the gallop all the way to the line this time around, the six-year-old rates the value call in a tightly-knit affair.

NOT A ROLE MODEL (best price 7-2) did precious little wrong on his seasonal return at Chepstow last time out and that performance should ensure he maintains his fine series of results over fences in today’s much weaker race on paper.

Pitched into a hugely competitive 2m4f handicap at the Welsh venue, Sam Thomas’ gelding was always to the fore in what turned out to be a strongly run affair and he was still right in the thick of the action down to the last. Unfortunately, he couldn’t quite go with the winner on the run-in, but he still finished nicely clear of the rest and with the time figure backing up the opinion it was a fair race of its kind, he should find today’s environment around a track where he’s gone well in the past, a good deal more to his liking.