Sunday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

If you had said to connections of, TAKE ME TO CHURCH (best price 10-3), he would end up being favourite to land a race of this nature after he got beaten in a modest maiden at Naas last October, they would have probably laughed you out of town, but such was the authority he exhibited when landing the Madrid Handicap on his seasonal bow, he now has to be taken extremely seriously. 

Although he may not have beaten much at the Co Kildare venue, the ease of his victory and speed figure suggested it was a performance of some merit and when you consider it was similar in many ways to the display Paddington put up in the same race the previous season, it is easy to see why Jack Davidson’s inmate finds himself in rarified air all of a sudden. 

With fitness on his side, he is a must for the shortlist of likely winners along with SAMUEL COLT (best price 6-1), who might just end being the best of Aidan O’Brien’s three colt’s long term. Whether that theory ends up being the case today remains to be seen but either way, there was no denying the class he exuded when he made a sparkling winning debut at The Curragh on his sole start last season. 

Well-touted prior to his opening gambit 159 days ago, the son of No Nay Never travelled extremely powerfully down to the halfway stage of what turned out to be a strongly run affair, and once asked to put the race to bed approaching the final furlong, he found a smart turn of foot in the conditions to pull readily clear of his rivals. 

Clocking a useful time figure in the process, he left the impression he would end up dining at the top table as a three-year-old and even though he has no flashy entries just yet, it surely won’t be too long before that situation changes for this exciting and powerfully made colt. One to follow. 

Befitting of a race of this nature, a competitive field assembled for the final of this series and of those away from the front end of the market where a strong case can be made,CROAGH PATRICK (best price 14-1) and ELLEON (best price 12-1) make the most appeal. 

The former was runner-up in the final of the Monet’s Garden series over 2m4f here last season and based on his light campaign this term, there’s little doubt connections have plotted a course whereby he returns to the Cumbrian venue in the best possible shape. 

Just having one run since last August, the nine-year-old produced a fair effort off a 219-day break when third to Deep Charm at Sedgefield and with that performance rubber stamping his ability to stay beyond three miles and race without headgear, he should be fresher than most in his bid to go one place better than he did twelve months ago.

The latter has been a shade more industrious during the same period but, as he seems to be thriving from his workload, Sam England’s inmate can continue his fine recent form. Heading into a competitive 2m4f handicap at Haydock on the back of a long losing run last time out, the son of Martaline travelled noticeable well throughout and once set about his work inside the final half a mile, he readily drew clear of his toiling rivals. 

Just as effective over today’s three-mile trip, as he proved in this race last season, his numbers from the Merseyside venue point towards him having strong claims to go one place better.