Andy Holding is back with three tips from today's horse racing action.
15:05 Down Royal
SAN MARTINO (best price 10-1) managed to raise his game sufficiently enough to finish a creditable fourth in a much better race than the one he faces here at Fairyhouse last time out and providing he can translate the same level of form over today’s longer trip, the local-trained gelding has a decent chance of featuring.
A 50-1 poke when up against many improving and in-form rivals at the Co Meath venue, the six-year-old was still travelling as well as anything approaching two out and although his effort rather petered out after the last, the data suggested he ran way beyond anything he’d previously achieved.
Still in the lead and going well when carried out by a loose horse at the third last at Down Royal previously, he may have gone close as well that day and he is worth a small interest at the morning odds to find out whether he has the sufficient stamina for today’s journey.
15:15 Plumpton
TRANSMISSION (best price 9-2) has been in choppy waters since landing an extraordinary success over today’s C&D three starts ago, and with the strong possibility he will take advantage of a significant drop in grade, Neil Mulholland’s gelding has seemingly plenty going for him on his return visit.
Having virtually got rid of his pilot at an early stage here back in January, his chances of landing a competitive handicap looked remote to say the least, but to his utmost credit, he not only got himself back into the contest, but he also stayed on strongest of all to win with a bit in hand. Never placed to challenge in a much stiffer test at Sandown next time, the seven-year-old probably found the heavy ground against him last time out but with the underfoot conditions offering little excuses on that score today, a big run looks in the offing.
16:50 Down Royal
HE FITZ IN (best price 5-1) posted a healthy set of numbers when scoring in game fashion at Limerick last time out and even though he is arguably slightly more effective over three miles, he has enough form over today’s trip to warrant keeping on side while in the form of his life.
Noted travelling strongly throughout the journey at the Munster venue, it soon became apparent only Atacanter stood in his way from victory in the final half a mile and with a good jump at the last, he stayed on best of all on the run-in to gain his due rewards for a series of fine placed efforts.
Interestingly, it’s worth pointing out the front two ran the final circuit two seconds quicker than the 2m3f handicap won by Horanca De Thaix (rated 127) so based on those findings, he should have enough pace to cope with half a mile less.
