Sunday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

SHANNON GREY (best price 10/1) finally got off the mark at the fifteenth attempt at Killarney last time out and with her new-found confidence carried forward into a race she was a creditable fourth in last season, there’s every chance she can better that finishing position a year on. 

Run out of the argument on the long climb uphill to the line at Dowpatrick previously, the daughter of Cloudings carried a degree of confidence behind her in the market in a similar contest at the Co Kerry venue 29 days ago and in what turned out to be a well-run race for the grade, she stayed on gamely in the latter stages to narrowly prevail. Obviously today’s assignment is going to require another big effort from Eion McCarthy’s mare, but at least she’s is already proven she’s not totally out of place in a race of this nature and her morning odds are big enough to warrant a small each-way interest.

THIBAULT (best price 3/1) can easily be forgiven for a below-par run on the Flat at Epsom last time due to the heavy ground, but with conditions much more suitable on his return to hurdles, Adam West’s gelding has every chance of upholding his fine course record. 

A smooth winner on his first outing at the Sussex venue back in 2020, plenty of water had gone under the bridge until he shipped up again, but despite the sabbatical, the result was still the same. This time on much faster ground, the son of Kayf Tara readily disposed of a useful field and in doing so, he posted a pretty smart speed figure. Dropping back to two miles this afternoon, the presence of See The Sea and Glimpse Of Gold should insure this is a good test at the trip, and with his stable enjoying a welcome winner at Newton Abbot on Friday, hope is high the Epsom handler can double his tally for the week. 

Given his preference for distances in and around the 1m4f mark, CLAN JOCK (NAP) (best price 13/8) was always likely to struggle over three furlongs shorter here last time out, but the fact he ran so well in defeat bodes well for his chance back at his favourite Scottish venue. 

A model of consistency all season, Jim Goldie’s gelding has struck gold on no fewer than three occasion during a fine spell of results and with all of his performances highlighting his ability to see out his races well over a stiff track, it’s easily to see why connections have kept it simple and by-and-large campaigned him over today’s unique course. Even though he narrowly failed to add to his winning tally here last time, the speed figure of that race 18 days ago strongly suggested he’d actually ran to a career high and with a little ease underfoot unlikely to inconvenience in any way shape, or form, the son of War Command receives a confident vote to go in again.