Sunday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

SNAPRAETEREA’s (best price 6/1) better behaviour in the stalls led to a convincing success at Tipperary last time out and with that new-found confidence hopefully carried forward to today’s assignment, back-to-back victories for Joseph O’Brien’s gelding are not out of the question.

Placed on his three previous outings, the son of Buratino would have probably fared even better had he not fluffed the start on each occasion and, as a result, connections felt it necessary to take some drastic measures. Fitted with Monty Roberts rug and blind before stalls entry at the Limerick Junction venue, he popped out of the gates with much more fluidity and although he was forced to race in the rear sue to his high draw, he came through strongly to claim the listed prize late on.

Clearly in fine shape based on that excellent display, the five-year-old once again has conditions to suit and providing he remembers all the good things he did prior to racing last time, there’s every chance another positive outcome will ensue.

JODY TED (best price 9/2) is at a significant fitness disadvantage to all his rivals here today but, as he does have a decent record of going well fresh, Eoin Griffin’s is worth risking on his first outing for 177 days.

Looking the most likely winner when unseating his pilot at the second last on his chasing debut at Cork last term, the seven-year-old made amends next time out in a similar race at Clonmel, winning decisively by 16 lengths.

Patchy throughout the remainder of the campaign, it is worth remembering he was good enough to finish runner-up to Kilcruit in arguably the most competitive novices’ handicap chase run in Ireland during the season and a repeat of something similar might well be good enough to take home today’s prize on ground that will suit.

IMPERIAL DATA (best price 15/8) arrives here on a crest of a wave and with his suitability to today’s undulating track confirmed with a strike at the first time of asking last time out, Rebecca Menzies’ gelding can complete his hat trick.

A winner at the first time of asking post wind op at Kelso a month ago, the son of Imperial Monarch was pitched into handicap company off what looked a handy enough opening mark and having travelled well throughout, he duly backed up that view with a gutsy display.

Staying on strongly to claim the prize close home, he left the impression there would be even more to come next time and providing he handles today’s change in conditions as well, the improving six-year-old is likely to have a say in the outcome.

CRASSUS (best price 10/1) failed to feature in The November Handicap at Naas last time out but, as things didn’t pan out the way he would have wanted, he is afforded another chance to show his true worth in this similar contest.

Heading into the Co Kildare venue following a series of solid results, Noel Meade’s inmate had better claims of scooping the big pot than his market odds suggests and if wasn’t for finding himself in an uncompromising position as the field turned for home, there’s a strong possibility he might have backed up that view and had a say in the outcome.

The amount of ground he made up on the leading players in the final two furlongs was encouraging to say the least and even though today’s drop back down in trip offers a different kind of test, his stamina will no doubt come into play at the business end.