Sunday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

DARK VIPER (best price 5-1) put in a good shift against a huge track bias at The Curragh last time out and a repeat of something similar should be good enough to see Jessica Harrington’s gelding right in the think of the action in this much weaker race on paper. 

Drawn in stall 1 of 13 at the Kildare venue, the three-year-old was forced to race on the wing throughout the entire extended six-furlong journey and considering he was the only one racing on the slowest part of the track to make any inroads into the pair who raced towards the favoured stands’ side rail, his effort deserved a massive upgrade. 

A keeping-on sixth in a race that has worked out extremely well subsequently over the same course previously, his overall levels of form are at a level whereby it’s hard to envisage him not going well over his optimum trip.

Ejaabiyah looks to have been presented a golden opportunity following her excellent effort in a listed race at Newbury on her seasonal bow but FIGHT FOR YOU (best price 15-2) showed enough promise on her debut to suggest she might be capable of keeping the favourite honest at the very least and at the morning prices, John & Thady Gosden’s filly is worth a small each-way interest. 

Slowly away in a maiden at Windsor a month ago, the daughter of Saxon Warrior was then hampered by a loose horse and, as result, she found herself trailing the field turning for home.

Although she could never land a meaningful blow at the main players from that juncture, it was noticeable she finished off her race full of running after being trapped behind a wall of horses and on the evidence of that initial display, she looks the type with a good deal more to offer.

MARBUZET (best price 9-1) has been plying his trade in calmer waters than what he faces this afternoon, but he has run the sort of speed figures to suggest he might be good enough to cope with the rise in class and, at a track where he has gone well in the past, hope is high he can punch above his weight. 

No worse than third in his last eleven races on turf, his overall levels of consistency have been continued so far this season and his latest effort in a well-run race for the grade at Nottingham was only just behind his career high effort on the numbers achieved at York last term. 

Just as good over today’s trip than he is over further, Tim Easterby’s inmate also doesn’t mind a bit of juice in the ground and being one of only two C&D winners in the field, he can put that valuable course knowledge to good use.