Sunday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

WILLYOUWALKWITHME (best price 9-2) hasn’t run for 163 days, so he does come with slight risks attached, but on the flipside, he has run well fresh in the past and, with a career record at today’s venue that reads 04531U12, the locally-trained trained gelding can pick up from where he left off here back in October. 

Off the track for 77 days prior to making a winning return here last June, the seven-year-old duplicated that performance three months later when making all the running to beat a 14-strong field with a bit to spare. Well-backed to repeat the dose on his return to the Co Down venue when last seen, the son of Morozov was unlucky to bump into rejuvenated Fassbender, who just outstayed him from the back of the last, but with the pair well clear at the time figure good, his effort still goes down as a commendable one. 

THE WIDDOW MAKER (NAP) (best price 3-1) made a very pleasing start to his chasing career with a convincing success in a decent novices’ event at Exeter and with Colin Tizzard’s gelding likely to be equally effective in these similar conditions here today, he’s strongly fancied to maintain his unbeaten record in his new discipline. 

Often seen to good effect when allowed to bowl along in front over hurdles, the son of Arvico adopted a similar approach after jumping the third fence at the West Country venue and once assuming command, he always looked in total control. Pulling clear in the latter stages without seemingly too much fuss, the eight-year-old scored with more up his sleeve than the winning margin suggested and with the chestnut providing that he’s just as effective over a stiff track than a sharp, right-handed one, confidence is high he can cope with today’s undulations. 

Downpatrick stages its big race of the year and as ever, it looks a tricky one to solve with so many having leading claims. However, a tried and trusted formula in finding the winner in the past is to look towards locally-trained horses laid out for the prize and of those fitting the bill this year, PORTSTORM (best price 7-2) stands out as the leading candidate. 

Useful over for hurdles when in the care of Ian Duncan, the son of Shirocco signed off for the Ayrshire handler with an eye-catching effort in a hot novices’ chase at Carlisle, keeping on well from the back of the field to finish a respectable sixth in a race that has worked out incredibly well since (Papa Tango Charly, Karl Phillipe, Killer Kane, Flower Of Scotland and Small Present all won subsequently). Switched to join Colin McBratney, he’s had a campaign that has very much suggested he’s been targeted at a race of this nature and with his latest effort coming courtesy of a promising performance behind My Immortal over hurdles at Punchestown 25 days ago, he’s expected to exploit what appears a decent handicap mark back over fences. 

Another to catch the eye in this stamina test is PEACHES AND CREAM (best price 15-2) and although he hasn’t been seen out since his excellent effort behind Run Wild Fred in the Troytown Handicap earlier in the season, the son of Salutino looks to have every chance of providing his in-form handler with the perfect end to a hugely profitable week. 

Lightly raced over fences, Gavin Cromwell’s gelding posted easily his best effort so far to date at the Co Meath venue and with the likes of the winner, Mister Fogpatches, Discordantly and Smoking Gun all boosting the form since, his left-alone mark of 125 has to be considered as fairly lenient.