Andy Holding is back with two tips for today's racing.
16:40 Dundalk
MADS BLACK EIGHTS (best price 12/1) has a bit to find based on the official ratings but at least she is proven over today’s C&D many times over and with plenty of ifs and buts about several ahead of her in the betting, a chance is taken on her putting his course knowledge to good use.
Given the way she has often finished off her races over the extended 1m2f, you would have though 1m4f would suit, but each time she has been stepped up in trip, she has failed miserably. Clearly better suited by a well-run race over a lap of the Co Lough track, the daughter of Zoffany arrives here following a promising effort in competitive handicap here last week and looking at her numbers compared to the likes of Autocrat, Garrick Painter and Hasten Slowly, who all ran on the same card, she comes out quite favourably against three who have been chalked up shorter than her in the betting.
Drawn better today on her return visit, a more favourable early track position should hopefully lead towards a more positive outcome at the business end.
17:45 Dundalk
SAN ANDREAS (best price 7/1) has been a grand servant to connections over the years and with most of his best performances coming at tonight’s Co Lough track, Joseph O’Brien’s inmate is fancied to stamp his undoubted class on proceedings.
Largely campaigned over 7f/1m throughout his career, connections have opted to step him up in trip in more recent times and following an excellent effort in chasing home stable mate Okita Soushi over the C&D last February, he has gone on to prove he now seems happier over the one lap of the polytrack circuit.
On his reappearance after a 180-day break, the seven-year-old ran a tremendous race to finish a creditable third in an ultra-competitive handicap behind Longbourn back in August and his latest effort when filling out the same position in a hot listed event behind the top-class pair, Piz Badille and Sea The Casper also reads well in the context of tonight’s assignment (virtually all of tonight’s rivals would have been battered in a race of that nature).
Indeed, if you compare his overall time figure and final circuit splits alongside one of tonight’s leading fancies, Slieve Binnian, a difference of five seconds (2.13.82 against 2.18.67) puts into perspective what he achieved here 21 days ago, so even accounting for the fact he has to shoulder top weight (eased by his useful 7lb apprentice), he should have enough quality to offset that impost.
