Andy Holding is back with three tips for today's action.
13:10 Navan
Shannon Royale looks to be the interesting one here if you take his victory over Tullyhill (ran as though something amiss) at face value, but the form, certainly based on the speed figure, probably amounts to little in terms of the totally different test he faces here today and at the prices he is readily passed over in favour of CLARENS (best price 11/1) and TALK IN THE PARK (best price 12/1).
The former caught the eye with the way he travelled in a hugely competitive heat here last time and time may tell he bumped into a well handicapped horse in the shape of Fortunedefortunata, who landed a proper gamble in style.
A cosy winner over the same C&D last season, he clearly likes the demands of the Co Meath venue, it’s just a question of whether he will be equally effective over today’s extra half a mile.
The latter takes a bit more explaining but there is some mileage in thinking that he could be quite well treated on his first start in handicap company. No match for the now 129-rated Yeats Star at Downpatrick back in October, he did, however, finish ahead of subsequent winner Charming Fortune and Musta Lovea Lovea, who went on to run a blinder behind the potentially top-class Slade Steel at Naas next time.
Up against subsequent Grade 3 winner Croke Park at Clonmel next time, trying to match motors with that classy type eventually failed and while he did get beaten 27 lengths at Naas last time out, the form of the race since suggests he didn’t run as badly as first feared.
Not only has the winner gone on to win a Grade 2, but the runner-up also filled out the same position in Grade 1 and the fourth and seventh have shown a decent amount of promise in useful maiden hurdles since. Obviously, today’s examination will be a totally different ball game, but off bottom weight, he is worth a shy at the stumps at 16-1.
15:10 Thurles
GETAWAY CHARLIE (best price 4/1) just found one too good in the shape of the useful Will Do here last time out, but it was another performance to suggest Timothy Doyle’s inmate remains progressive and he deserves to be kept on side returning to the Co Tipperary venue.
A big improver during the autumn months, the seven-year-old arrived here following a breakthrough success over the useful Stuzzikini at Punchestown and it looked for nine tenths of the 2m7f journey he was going to repeat the dose. Joining the heavily backed favourite at the last, he didn’t quite see his race out as well as the eventual winner but as the ground would have been plenty soft enough for him on that occasion, he can be excused on that front.
Back on slightly better ground another patient ride should see him work his way into the thick of the action towards the business end and it will be just a question of whether he has the minerals to get the job done.
