Sunday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

INDIE BELLE (best price 9/2) had to counted as an unlucky loser at Navan last time out and she’s fancied to make amends in a race she finished runner-up last year.

A winner over fences Tramore four starts ago, Robert Widger’s mare has performed with great credit on all her three subsequent outings without getting her head in front, but that may well have been a different story had she not made a bad mistake at the last at the Co Meath venue last time.

Seemingly in control approaching the final flight, the daughter of Flemensfirth went from two lengths ahead to losing all momentum with a shuddering error and, having no time to recover, she ended up finishing just outside the frame – a position she hardly deserved given the way she went through the race.

Although she can make the running, she’s probably at her best when just ridden in behind the pace, and with today’s conditions similar to what they were twelve months ago, the six-year-old chestnut can gain compensation for what happened three weeks ago.

THE WISE TRAVELLER (best price 13/8) has really turned his career around in no uncertain terms and following arguably his most impressive success so far to date, another C&D victory looks on the cards for Charlie Longsdon’s gelding.

Disappointing to the point of connections sending him to the sales, a victory at Fontwell back in the Autumn proved to be a stay of execution and since then, the son of Getaway hasn’t looked back.
Back on genuine good ground here last time out after finishing second twice on rain-softened conditions, he picked up the running travelling best five out and even though he faced several challengers in the final half a mile, he never looked like relinquishing his advantage. 

Still allowed to run in Class 5 company despite that bloodless win, the six-year-old makes plenty of appeal to provide his inexperienced conditional with his first career success (just had the eight rides).

PANDA BOY (best price 11/4) hasn’t been seen out since finishing an honourable third in the viciously competitive Paddy Power Chase over today’s course back in December, but providing he’s somewhere near peak fitness on his return to action, there’s a decent chance Martin Brassil’s gelding will be able to assert his class on his rivals. 

Winner of the Pertemps Qualifier over today’s course last season, the seven-year-old grey, however, was always seen as a better chasing prospect and although it’s only a small sample size, that theory isn’t too wide of the mark.

Successful on his first start over fences last May, the son of Valirann wasn’t quite good enough for Graded company when returning to the fray, but his effort back at the Dublin venue over the Christmas period suggested he should have a fair career in plenty of big staying handicaps in the next few seasons. 

The way he jumped and travelled 68 days ago belied his lack of experience and even though he is racing over a slightly shorter trip here this afternoon, his ability to pop away and save energy more than compensates for that negative.