Sunday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

MAGNOR GLORY (NAP) (best price 3/1) ran well in a viciously competitive handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse on his last start and a repeat of something similar should be enough to see Terence O’Brien’s gelding improve significantly on his sixth-place finish in this race last year. 

Arriving at the Co Meath venue off a 197-day break, the seven-year-old held every chance on the home turn, but despite keeping on well enough in the straight, he could not go with the three main players after the last and he ended up having to settle for a valiant fourth. Considering he gave the outside of the track away to no one that day, in turn, forfeiting a huge amount of ground, his effort deserves upgrading and when you analyse the time figure and subsequent form of the race (Monbeg Park and Ballybawn Belter won since), there is even more reason to get excited about his chances.

Moreover, he is one of the few horses in the field with proven winning form over today’s course and when you also factor in his dominant display in a Grade A handicap at last season’s Listowel festival, anything other than a bold show would be a huge anti-climax.

WHATSDASTORY (best price 11/2) frustratingly finished runner-up for the third consecutive time over today’s C&D last time out, but as the speed figure indicated she had run right up to her best form, she is worth another chance to finally snap the sequence. 

Shouldering top weight in what looked a trappy four-runner affair at the Shropshire venue, the daughter of Beneficial led the field a merry dance until joined by the strong-travelling Saint Doctor at the third last and although she kept on willingly enough once headed by her main rival, she could not muster up a response in the closing stages. 

That said, the pair pulled miles clear of the other pair and with the time figure speaking favourably of her performance in defeat, she is worth a small interest to find the illusive back of the net.

CAPTAIN HADDOCK (best price 7/2) almost pulled off what would have been a miraculous victory at Doncaster on his seasonal bow and with that initial outing likely to have done Heather Main’s gelding the world of good, he is strongly fancied to make amends over a track where he has enjoyed quite a bit of joy in the past.

Slowly away and in rear through the early exchanges on Town Moor, the six-year-old still had a mountain to climb as the field turned for home, but with a powerful late surge towards the far side rail, he managed to get with half a length of the eventual winner. 

Leaving the distinct impression he may have won had he not been so far behind at halfway, he returns to the scene of one of just two of his career wins and having also finished runner-up in this race last year, confidence is high he can go one place better.