Sunday's Racing Tips from Andy Holding

BELLA BLISS (NAP) (best price 6-4) was in the process of running a huge race when a bad mistake at the last took away any chance she had of breaking her duck, but on the evidence of that display, it’s surely only a matter of time before her luck changes and today could well be her day.

Promising on her hurdling debut over the same course previously, John McConnell’s mare seemed to be going as well as anything on the run down to the last over the same C&D a month later, but in taking off a stride too early, she ended up losing her hind legs on the other side. Unable to recover in time, she did, however, keep on in the sort of style that suggested she would have won without mishap and with similar conditions in place on her return visit, the daughter of Getaway can make amends.

RAINBOW MIRAGE (best price 4-1) caught the eye with the way she finished off her race here last time out and with that performance not the first time she’s shown decent form over today’s C&D, Mark Rimell’s mare is fancied to take advantage of a drop in grade.

Following an uncharacteristically poor run at Haydock, it was easy to understand why she was sent off a 16-1 poke at the Berkshire venue 13 days ago, but despite being the outsider of the seven who went to post, she managed to outrun her odds by some way. Noted travelled well throughout, had she obtained a clearer passage at a crucial stage she may have been vying for even higher honours, but at least her effort proved she’s back in line with her general consistency. A smooth winner on her only other previous outing over today’s C&D, the daughter of Garswood should benefit from the fact there are three front runners on show.

A decent nursery in prospect with several intriguing runners on show, but arguably the most impressive of these last time out was INDIAN DREAM (best price 9-2) and he can carry that viewpoint forward to his second victory since being gelded.

Slightly disappointing when sent off favourite at Chelmsford, connections decided to crack on with unkindest cut of all, but on the evidence of his next effort 51 days later, the operation on Michael Bell’s inmate seems to have done the trick. Despite being a little keen early on at Epsom 10 days ago, the son of Sioux Nation showed a useful turn of foot to pull well clear of his rivals late on and with the speed figure and backend sectionals complimenting the visual aspect of his display, it makes sense to keep him on side until proven otherwise.

ARCTIC FOX (best price 13-2) arrives here in the form of her life and with the step up in trip seemingly responsible for his sudden surge of improvement, Martin Todhunter’s mare can complete the second hat trick in her career.

Showing signs of a revival in the first-time cheekpieces at York three starts ago, the six-year-old returned to a track where she had performed well last season and after being held up towards the rear, she came through strongly in the latter stages to nail the front-running Storm Chaser close home. Upped in trip and racing on much faster ground back at the scene on her previous success, the daughter of Mastercraftsman proved to be even more impressive, skipping right away in the final two furlongs without turning a hair. Clearly in excellent heart judged on her last two starts, she will probably need to improve again to cope with today’s more competitive environment, but with patient ride off a strong pace likely to be the order of the day, there’s every chance she will prove equal to the task.