Sunday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

Based on their most recent exploits at Wolverhampton, this looks between Artisan Dancer and MOLIWOOD (best price 6/1) and because the latter has been chalked up three times the price as the favourite, Dylan Cunha’s gelding rates the logical each-way call.

The feature of that race at the Midland venue was the strong tempo throughout and having been one of the first to commit for home coming out of the back straight, it meant the son of Fastnet Rock was always likely to be a sitting duck for one of the closers late on.

True to form that’s exactly what transpired 16 days ago but either way, he still managed to post a smart speed figure in defeat and with his old rival going on to win at Newcastle next time out, the form is deemed solid.

Drawn stall one today, hopefully he should receive plenty of cover throughout and providing he is delivered at the right time on this occasion, there’s every chance he will have a say in the outcome.

A stellar Grade 1 in every respect and, in race that is likely to have huge ramifications in the Supreme Novices’ ante-post market, KING OF KINGSFIELD (best price 12/1) is fancied to prove the joker in the pack.

Unnecessarily called one or two rude names earlier in the season due to his tendency to finish second, Gordon Elliott’s inmate has looked a totally different proposition since hold up tactics have been employed and his latest success over today’s C&D was an insight into how his state of mind has altered accordingly.

Now connections realise he’s best served being covered up and ridden for a turn of foot, there are plenty of good races to be won with him and even though his stable mate Farren Glory beat him on merit in the Royal Bond earlier in the campaign, the son of Vadamos has more than a puncher’s chance of turning around the form. If he does fall just short of Grade 1 level, there’s plenty of mileage in his current rating of 140 and something like the County Hurdle would be a good race to fall back on.

Probably the most competitive race of the entire weekend with so many potentially well handicapped horses on show but all the same it would be a surprise if JAMES DU BERLAIS (best price 5/1) wasn’t one of the names commentator Jerry Hannon was calling coming down to the last based on his latest effort over today’s course last time out.

Always up with the pace right from the word go in the Paddy Power Chase, Willie Mullins’ inmate jumped and travelled supremely well for majority of the three-mile journey, and it was only after negotiating the last when his stamina well began to run dry, and he eventually succumbed to those ridden with more patience.

Working on the theory a drop back to 2m5f might prove a better option for him, the eight-year-old has enough class and experience to handle himself in a race of this nature over these demanding fences and given the form of his stable so far at this meeting, it’s hard to imagine him being one of the five representatives from the Closutton yard who flops.