Andy Holding's Sunday Racing Tips

Galopin Des Champs looked an absolute monster when he scored here on chase debut two months ago but, while fully accepting Willie Mullins’ gelding is the one to beat, stable mate CAPODANNO (best price 8-1) shouldn’t be dismissed totally out of hand and he makes the most appeal at the prices.

Not too far behind his main market rival on ratings over hurdles, the son of Manduro has looked an even better proposition over fences and following a remarkable victory at the first time of asking at Naas (won despite almost coming to a standstill two out), he proved he belongs on a big stage when chasing home the high-class Bob Olinger in an above-average Grade 3 at Punchestown last time out. Although beaten fair and square by the winner on the day, he lost nothing in defeat and even though he shapes as though distances beyond 2m4f are going to suit him even more further down the line, he’s also not short of pace. A solid jumper with a good blend of speed and stamina, today’s test should be well within his remit and he’s worth playing in the ‘with and without the favourite’ markets.

MAX FLAMINGO (best price 13-2) did really well to keep tabs with genuine Grade 1 novices’ here last time out and now back among handicap company, there’s every reason to feel upbeat about Francis Casey’s gelding.

Still yet to win over fences in four starts, the son of Kalanisi, however, has been up against some pretty stern opposition and with each run strongly suggesting he’s getting better with each run, an opening chase rating of 142 could well be up for exploiting. Still bang there two out here two months ago, the seven-year-old just didn’t see out the three miles as well as the likes of Fury Road and Run Wild Fred, but he still managed to finish ahead of Ontheropes, Ashdale Bob and Bacardys – all top class performers in their own right – and that effort has to go down as a career high. Prior to that stellar performance, he had finished in front of subsequent winner, Floueur, when chasing home the smart Lieutenant Command at Punchestown and that form alone would be good enough to see him go close this afternoon. Back to a more suitable trip over a course where he’s already cored over hurdles, Francis Crawley’s lightly-raced type makes plenty of appeal despite the wide-open feel of the race.

WAKOOL (best price 9-4) has improved at a rapid rate of knots since upped to three miles and, following another emphatic display at Ayr last time out, Nick Alexander’s gelding is fancied to make it four on the bounce.

Starting his winning spree back in May, his only defeat in his last five outings came a month later at Perth, but since returning to action after a 150-day break, the son of Motivator has continued to thrive. A dual winner over today’s C&D, the six-year-old grey was arguably even more impressive on

his latest outing 35 days ago, winning without seemingly coming out of third gear, and if the time figure is clear guide to his performance levels, even a rise to 131 might not be enough to stop him going in again. Not only did he post the fastest overall time on the card, his final circuit was also the quickest on the hurdles course at the Scottish venue, so it’s clear he’s a horse at the peak of his powers at present. Based on those findings, the faster the pace today the better his chances will become, and with his course knowledge also likely to count for plenty in the final analysis, he gains the vote over Brorson, the other big improver in the field.

Sir Gerhard is the last big name to throw his Supreme Novices’ cap in the ring and many, no doubt, will be siding with Willie Mullins’ gelding to join the Cheltenham minibus alongside stable mate Dysart Dynamo, but this will not be the walkover as the betting suggests and THREE STRIPE LIFE (best price 11-2) is perfectly capable of gate crashing the party.

Eight lengths inferior to his old rival in last season’s Champion bumper at the Cheltenham Festival, Gordon Elliott’s gelding, however, was always seen as a long-term project, so he should not be judged too harshly on that defeat. Only workmanlike on his hurdling debut at Fairyhouse, connections, however, were still keen to tackle the very best in the Grade 1 Future Champions Novices’ Hurdle over today’s C&D at the Christmas meeting and although he ended up playing second fiddle to stable mate Mighty Potter, he came out of the race with a huge amount of credit. Noted still going well coming out of the back straight, the son of Leading Light was unsighted on the run down to the second last and this caused him to dive at the flight and hit it halfway up. Losing plenty of ground and valuable momentum at the most crucial part of the race wasn’t exactly part of the plan, but he impressed with the way he worked himself back into contention on the run to the last. Keeping on strongly all the way to the line from this juncture, he couldn’t quite peg back his main market rival in the final 200yds, who enjoyed an error-free round, but he still managed to finish nicely clear of the rest and, with the time figure a pretty healthy one, his performance was by far and away his best so far to date. Looking at the conditions at the Dublin venue yesterday and with all the rain falling since, the ground is bound to be a little softer than what has been predicted and this will certainly help this six-year-old as well as slow down a few others. Either way, whichever way you strip it down, it’s hard to envisage this improving and lightly-raced novice not going well based on his time figures, form at Grade 1 level and hailing from a yard who enjoyed a decent opening day to the meeting (unlucky not to have more than one winner)