Sunday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

RUTHLESS ARTICLE (best price 7/2) returned to something approaching his best when runner-up in the Summer Cup here a month ago and providing all is well with Rebecca Curtis’ gelding after sustaining a pretty hard race, he has every chance of going one place better in this slightly weaker contest on paper. 
It’s probably fair to say the son of Definite Article hasn’t quite gone forward as anticipated since landing a novices’ handicap chase at Aintree last summer, but since having his batteries recharged after a long break, he seems to have returned a revitalised character.

An early casualty on his first start for 208-days at Ffos Las, the nine-year-old proved a total revelation when staying on his feet at the Midland venue 28 days ago and a performance of a similar level will surely see him go close on his return visit. Seeing out his new trip really well, he only found the reformed character Jerrysback too good in the final half a mile of what turned out to be a very strongly run affair and with the third home, Francky Du Berlais, going on to boost the form at Market Rasen last weekend, it’s easy to make a strong case out for this lightly-raced chaser under similar conditions. 

ANDAPA (best price 7/2) left the impression she would be all the better for the run after a 280-day break here last time out and with that hopefully being the case, Michael Roberts’ mare is fancied to add to her excellent record at today’s track.

A convincing winner on her first outing at the Midland venue this time last year, the daughter of Kapgarde was a warm order to land this very prize on her return visit nine days later and after travelling well throughout, she readily disposed of her nine rivals with plenty to spare (eased down close home). Lightly raced since, it would be a reasonable suggestion to think connections have had this race in mind for the eight-year-old for quite some time and with the likelihood of her being a good deal sharper in all departments following her promising effort 28 days ago, she rates a solid-looking play at the morning prices.