Sunday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

RAILWAY HURRICANE (best price 5/1), it’s fair to say, isn’t the most straightforward of characters, but despite his slight foibles he is capable of getting the job done when things go his way and at a track where he has finished runner-up on his two previous visits, it wouldn’t be a total shock if he were to go one place better. 

Badly hampered as the tapes flew back on his latest visit to Prestbury Park a month ago, Gavin Cromwell’s inmate did extremely well in the circumstances to come from so far back to be the only one to offer any resistance to the all-the-way winner Idalko Bihoue and with data suggesting he had once again run to a fair level, his effort deserves extra praise.

Moreover, he seemed to beat one of today’s main rival, Ginny’s Destiny, on merit despite giving him a big head start and with ground conditions all coming alike to this son of Perugino, a typically patient ride is likely to see him uphold that from at the very least.

Gordon Elliott represents over half the field in this valuable staying prize so it would come as no surprise if the Cullentra handler were to it for the sixth time and of the fifteen he sends to post, HOLLOW GAMES (best price 15/2) is one of the most likely to come out on top.

A smart performer over hurdles, placed a Grade 1 level, the son of Beat Hollow has not matched those heights so far over fences but his effort when third in the Galway Plate last time out there is a big payday with his name on it sooner rather than later.

Poorly positioned in the dip two out, the way he stayed on up the hill to be never nearer at the finish backed up that view and on the evidence of that display, a step up to three miles would not go amiss.

2-2 at today’s track and from a yard flying, the unexposed chaser should go close to having his day in the sun.

If there is to be a gate crasher, LIMERICK LACE (best price 10/1) might just prove to be the one capable of muscling her way through against the numbers as she brings a decent amount of quality to the party.

Following a pleasing introduction to fences over two miles behind Hollow Games at this meeting last season, Gavin Cromwell’s mare has gone from strength to strength and on the evidence of her display at Clonmel on her first outing for 201 days, she looks set for further success as a chaser.

Never out of third gear at the Co Tipperary venue, the six-year-old left the impression she could be a good deal better than her current rating of 141 and with the prospect of improvement to come racing over three miles for the first time, a chance is taken on her stamina holding out.

L’EAU DE SUD (best price 6/1) represents a trainer who has built up a reputation of being something of a handicap hurdle specialist at today’s track over the years and with connections having had this race in mind for Dan Skelton’s gelding for a decent length of time, he rates a strong fancy to execute the long-term plan.

Lightly raced since joining the UK scene, the five-year-old first intimated a big pot is well within his reach when a creditable third in a competitive handicap at Kempton last Christmas and the same comments apply to his final outing in the Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso three months later.

In what turned out to be a strongly run affair, he kept on well to fill out the same position behind the locally trained Benson and with a field of seasoned handicappers well beaten off in behind him that day, in was a performance which augured well for the future.

Taken out of his last intended outing of the campaign over today’s course due to unsuitable quick ground, he arrives back at the same venue with conditions to suit and having undergone surgery to clean up his wind in the off season, hope is high he can take advantage of his potentially favourable mark of 130.