Sunday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

Takarengo is an admiral sort, but he has rather got out of the habit of winning and as favourite, he worth taking on with HASCOEUR CLERMONT (best price 4-1). 

Admittedly, Gavin Cromwell’s inmate isn’t exactly prolific either, but there have been signs in his last two races his winning turn might not be too far away and with his yard in unstoppable form at present, a chance is worth taking it will be today. 

Unseating his rider at the last at Punchestown 18 days ago, he probably would have secured a minor role but for his untimely exit but considering he lost vital ground and momentum with a couple of sluggish leaps down the back straight, his effort just to get himself back into a challenging position was commendable. 

Obviously, he will need to be a bit more proficient in that department here this afternoon, but with a reasonably clear round, he certainly has enough 

FREE FLOWING (best price 7-1) seemed to beat the well-touted Willie Mullins-trained Olympic man on merit here last time out and with that success making Norman Lee’s inmate the only course winner in the field, he can put that useful knowledge to good use when tackling this stronger contest.

Heading onto his latest encounter with seemingly no more than an each-way chance up against a 2-5 poke with a sexy profile, the son of Sans Frontiers, however, travelled better than his odds implied and when asked to go and seal the deal when joining his main market rival at the last, he impressed with the amount he found for pressure. 

In his post-race interview, his trainer had intimated his charge should come on significantly for the run so with that in mind, an even sharper version of what we saw 26 days ago might be good enough to shake up a few head of him in the pre-race markets. 

KING OF THE STORY (best price 5-1) was a shade unlucky to bump into the progressive Ideallko at Plumpton last time out, but it was another effort to suggest he remains on the right track and with today’s race seemingly not containing that sort of calibre of opposition in its midst, Polly Gundry’s inmate can justify the quick turnaround. 

A smooth winner of a novices’ handicap at Fontwell back in August, was nicely supported ahead of his next assignment at Plumpton, but unfortunately for him and his followers, any chance he had of winning went out of the window when he was almost brought to a standstill by a faller at the third last.

Back to the scene of that untimely incident six days ago, the seven-year-old just couldn’t quite match the finishing kick of winner after holding every chance from two out, but it was still a fair effort in the context of today’s race and off the same mark (79), he is well worth chancing again despite the ground being slightly more testing.