Andy Holding's Sunday horse racing tips include two fancies in the 16:50 at Sligo.
14:35 Sligo
RED BALL OF FIRE (best price 7-1) ran out a convincing winner of this race twelve months ago and following several reasonable efforts since returning to the fray, Mark McNiff’s mare is expected to put up a brave fight in a bid to retain her crown.
Although she has run well at other venues, today’s course, which is only just down the road from her Strandhill base, clearly suits her best and following two previous victories over the C&D, it came as no surprise when she popped up again to land this prize on home soil.
Tried over fences at Clonmel last time out, she didn’t show too much of an aptitude for the larger obstacles but now back over hurdles and at her favourite venue, everything looks set fair for another positive outcome from this locally trained mare.
RED BALL OF FIRE – ½ point each-way @ 7-1
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16:50 Sligo
Quite a few to consider in this competitive three-mile handicap hurdle but the safest option could turn out to be sticking with the race won by EARLY ARRIVAL (best price 11-2) at Tramore recently and both he and the third home, GLENDINE BILLY (best price 8-1) are worth playing against the field.
The former got a cute rider from his pilot at the Waterford track, racing wide throughout in search of the better ground and while he may have had a significant advantage in doing so, he won with that much in hand, it might not have made too much difference if he hadn’t ploughed such a furrow.
Either way, he arrives here in excellent heart – his previous effort at Clonmel also useful – and having gone well over today’s C&D in the past, he’s a must for any shortlist.
The latter has 12 lengths to find with his old rival from his exploits 36 days ago, but he is fancied to get a good closer at the very least.
Ridden to get the trip on his first attempt beyond two miles, Tony Mullins’ gelding just found himself with too much ground to make up on the eventual winner in the final circuit, but he must be given a huge amount of credit for accounting for his other 11 opponents in that time frame.
Based on his effort that day, an extra half a mile should be well within his compass and with the possibility of more to come, this lightly raced six-year-old can feature at the business end.
