Sunday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

MINX TIARA (best price 7-1) doesn’t know how to run a bad race and following yet another commendable effort in a high-quality mares’ contest at Leopardstown last time out, David O’Brien’s mare can brush aside top weight.

A gallant fourth in the Brown Lad Handicap over today’s course back in November, the daughter of Doyen has taken her game to an even higher level since and that improvement can be summarised by her excellent effort in the Grade 3 hurdle at Leopardstown two starts ago. Although ultimately coming up a little short, the fact she was able to keep tabs with the likes of Royal Kahala, Heaven Help Us and Tellmesomethinggirl says a lot for her overall qualities. Back in slightly calmer waters at the same track last time out, she went well for a long way before the responsibilities of forcing an extremely strong pace eventually caught up with her on the run-in, but proving she’s ridden with a slightly more conservatitive view here this afternoon, there’s every chance she can gain due reward for her consistency.

LATITUDE (NAP) (best price 11-8) impressed on many different levels when scoring at the first time of asking over hurdles at Ludlow two months ago and with the numbers from that race at the Shropshire venue suggesting it was an above-average performance, Mel Rowley’s gelding rates a strong choice to repeat the dose.

A winner of a point and a bumper, the son of Shirocco shaped as though he badly needed the outing on his return to action over today’s course back in October, but with that all-important run under his belt he proved to be a totally different proposition next time out. Contesting what appeared a warm novices’ event 86 days ago, the six-year-old travelled wel throughout and then asked to go and seal the deal after picking up the running turning for home, he stayed on strongly in the latter stages to repel the challenges of the useful pair, Mumbo Jumbo and Hometown Hero (both ran in the EBF Final yesterday). Seemingly suited by the step up in trip that day, he gets another chance to prove his worth granted a similar test and even though he faces no easy task up against the likes of Sliver Flyer and Bridge North, he’s still fancied to have their measure.

Both FRANCO DE PORT (best price 5-1) and DIOL KER (best price 6-1) were more than just extras in the Thyestes Chase at Gowran last time out and with the form of that quality three-mile handicap already shaping up nicely subsequently, the pair are worth playing against the field.

The former didn’t exactly head into the Co Kenny venue with a glowing reference, but he ended up coming out of the contest with close to a career high performance stamped on his passport. Taken wide throughout in search of the better ground, Willie Mullins’ gelding was produced to hold every chance approaching two out and although he saw the trip out strongly all the way to the line, he just found the gambled-on Longhouse Poet too good. Since that top-class race was run 45 days ago, the likes of Death Duty, Coko Beach and Escaria Ten have all advertise the excellent speed figure, and son of Coastal path has enough class to follow along the same lines.

The latter had been blighted by a poor jumping technique in the early part of his chase career, but he’s finally beginning to show his fences a good deal more respect and his latest effort bares testimony to that fact. Runner-up to the useful Jungle Boogie over 2m4f previously, he really appreciated the solid test over three miles his latest encounter had to offer and with the assessor appearing to still give him a chance here today off 137, Noel Meade’s gelding can go close with a clear round.