Sunday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

Some promising novices face the starter for this Grade 3, but the one with the standout credentials so far is IMPERVIOUS (NAP) (best price 9/4) and she deserves to be played accordingly.

Smart over hurdles just short of Grade 1 level, the daughter of Shantou has looked a totally different proposition since switching her attentions to fences and following a big effort on the numbers when scoring first time off the bat at Wexford, she duly backed up that performance at Graded level at Cork last time out.

Tracking the decent pace set by the smart Dinoblue, Colm Murphy’s mare impressed with the way she disposed of her main market rival in the latter stages and it came as little surprise to see her speed figure speak favourably for the second time in succession.

Now second favourite to land the Mares’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, her progression has clearly been noticed by her new owner JP Mcmanus, and with today’s conditions literally water of a ducks back for the seven-year-old mare, this contest represents the last opportunity for her put the finishing touches to her date with destiny in March.

It’s fair to say KRABAT (best price 9/2) doesn’t boast a great win-to-run ratio, but at the same time, he’s quite a consistent performer at this level and following arguably one of his best career efforts at Limerick last time out, he has a decent chance of changing the script.

Good enough to finish a respectable distance behind the potentially top-class stayer Maxxum at Navan over hurdles earlier in the campaign, Michael McDonagh’s gelding was equally as good when switching back to fences at the Greenmount Park venue last time.

In what turned out to be an extremely strong run handicap, in-keeping with many previous Tim Duggan Memorials, the eight-year-old was bang there with every chance at the last until just outpaced by the front pair close home.

Posting an excellent speed figure in defeat, the form has already taken a positive step in the right direction courtesy of Rebel Gold’s victory in the Dan Moore at Fairyhouse yesterday and with most of his best efforts coming when faced with testing conditions, going right-handed, everything looks set fair for another bold display.

The typically trappy handicap for the grade, but both JUSTCALLMEPETE (best price 7/2) and SHALAA ASKAR (best price 8/1) arrive here in excellent shape for varying reasons and, as a result, they are taken against the field.

The former probably hasn’t won the number of races his talent has allowed but, since fitted with blinkers, he simply hasn’t looked back. Doing really well to score in the first-time headgear after missing the break over today’s C&D back a month ago, James Evans’ gelding returned to the scene of that triumph in a bid to follow up and this time everything was a good deal more straightforward.

For once coming out on terms with his fellow competitors meant he was right in the thick of the action at halfway and knowing how well he usually finishes off his races, there was only going to be one result at the business end. Winning with more in hand than the official result suggests, the son of Bated Breath left the impression his bid for a hat trick is well withing range and providing he consents to come out of the stalls in similar fashion to what he did 17 days ago, the opposition need to be pulling their socks up in order to keep him at bay down the straight.

The latter technically has a bit to find with his old rival based on their latest clash, but a closer inspection to how the race developed for Adrian Kealey’s gelding suggests he’s no forlorn hope.

Drawn widest of all, his pilot had no option but to take his mount back in the early stages and, as a result, the son of Shalaa found himself last as the field turned for home. Although never placed to challenge – which was understandable in the circumstances – he did, however, make up some noticeable late headway that allowed him to finish a creditable fifth (posted the fastest final three-furlong splits) and working on the theory that being much better draw today should see him race closer to the early speed, the five-year-old is most likely to outrun his morning odds.