Sunday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

LAUGH A MINUTE (best price 8-1), winner of this race last season, looks to have a tougher assignment on his hands in a bid to retain his crown, but he does have that all-important run under his belt courtesy of a smooth victory at the Curragh last weekend and he’s fancied to make the most of that advantage and reward each-way support. 

Not always the most straightforward of characters, in the sense he could find trouble in a telephone box, Ado McGuiness’ gelding, however, has on quite a few occasions shown what he can do when things pan out in his favour and his performance at the Co Kildare venue eight days ago was just a snapshot of his capabilities. Dropped back to the minimum trip and racing in a handicap where there didn’t appear any obvious improvers, the son of Mayson oozed class throughout and he ended up scoring with more in hand than the winning margin suggested. Up against the likes of Measure Of Magc, Logo Hunter, Mooneista, Twilight Spinner and the potential fly in the ointment Teresa Mendoza, this will be a proper test of his mettle, but hopefully, his high-cruising speed and overall wellbeing will prove good enough to see him competitive.

FLAME BEARER (NAP) (best price 13-8) has quickly developed into a bone fide Graded performer and with today’s contest nominated as his target straight after he passed the line triumphant at Naas last time out, the plan is strongly fancied to be executed. 

A smooth winner of a maiden hurdle over today’s C&D back in January, disposing of the likes of Micro-Manage and Prairie Dancer into the bargain, Pat Doyle’s gelding thoroughly deserved his shot at a much tougher assignment at the Co Kildare venue next time and as it turned out, he came through without too much fuss. Always travelling well just behind the speed of a good gallop, the son of Fame And Glory eased to the front on the run down to the last and he only had to be nudged out hands and heels to pull clear of the strongly-fancied Meet And Greet, who’d posted a big number in victory the time before. With the greatest respect to today’s field, he appears to have avoided all the top notchers likely to be saved for Punchestown later in the month and with the ground also seen as a plus given his pedigree, the scopey seven-year-old can round off his season in the best possible fashion. 

RED LACEWING (best price 11-4) looked a bit unlucky to say the very least not to land the listed Bosra Sham Stakes at Newmarket last season and with no doubt connections hoping that the daughter of No Nay Never can gain some all-important black type at some stage during her three-year-old campaign, it would come as a massive disappointment if wasn’t competitive in a race off this nature off an opening mark of 90 (80 taken into account the jockey’s claim). 

Promising on her debut at Navan last August, she had one of today’s main rivals, Pearl Palinka, well behind her that day, and she wasted no time putting that valuable experience to good use when scoring at the next time of asking at Naas. In what turned out to be a very strongly-run race of its kind, Fozzy Stack’s filly travelled well before staying on best of all up the far side rail to get the better of New York City, who has not only gone on to advertise the strength of the form since, but is now rated 101. Sent to HQ on her final start of the campaign, she was well-backed beforehand despite being up against many who already had proven form at pattern level and, had she have obtained anything like a clear run, the decision to pitch her into the deep end on just her third career start would have easily been justified. Quite what connections have in mind for this well-bred filly will only be realised in the fullness of time, but there surely will be stiffer tasks awaiting further down the line and it will be only lack of match practice/fitness that will prevent her from making a winning start to the second season.