Andy Holding's Sunday Racing Tips

Nickolson is regarded by his stable as one of their better young novices coming through the ranks and it’s probably safe to say he’ll turn out to be the best of today’s bunch in time, but for now, TRINCOMALEE (best price 11-4) has by far and away the stronger body of work and for that reason, he rates the better bet of the pair at the morning odds.

Outstayed on heavy ground by the useful Faire Part Sivola at Leicester two starts ago, Lucy Wadham’s gelding improved greatly for a step up in trip and better conditions over today’s course last time out and that victory was no more than what he deserved based on his other three placed efforts. Although dropping back to the minimum trip may at first not be considered ideal, it’s worth pointing out that the son of Malinas finished a close-up third in a very hot novice event at Newbury back in November and even a repeat of that level of form entitles him to the utmost respect in a race of today’s nature. 2-2 at today’s venue, the consistent seven-year-old looks sure to give another solid account.

Castle Oliver is bound to be popular having completed his hat trick in some style over today’s course last time out, but this will prove a different test altogether against proper stayers over further and he’s passed over in favour of CHEB DE KERVINIOU (best price 7-1) who’s been threatening to land one of these races in recent times.

A three-time winner in his native France, the son of Tiger Groom has run well in each of his starts since joining new connections and his latest effort at Punchestown has to go down as his strongest piece of form. Up to 3m4f for the first time in his career, Gordon Elliot’s gelding travelled strongly for large portions of the journey and even though he kept on willingly all the way to the line, he ended up finishing on the heels of Ifyoucatchmenow and Augusta Gold. Although the overall speed figure wasn’t off the charts by any stretch of the imagination, the final lap time, which was considerably faster than the two-mile rated novice chase won by Yaha Fizz, suggested they were trapping along at a fair old pace for a race of its kind and with big distances back to the rest, the front three all have to be marked down as strong stayers at the trip. Not void of tactical speed, the ten-year-old shouldn’t find the drop back in distance this afternoon much of an issue and he rates a fair each-way proposition in the first time tongue-tie.

Beacon Edge probably just about sets the standard based on form, but it’s noticeable that he hasn’t posted any big numbers on the clock, so he’s readily passed over at the prices in favour of ENTOUCAS (best price 4-1) and JUNGLE JUNCTION (best price 16-1).

The former arrives here in fine shape having shed his maiden tag in pretty decent style and in doing so he clocked a fairly smart time figure. Moreover, he looked as though he plenty left in the tank as he went passed the line and on the evidence of that display, the assessor might just have underestimated him given him an opening mark of 131. Clearly keen to exploit that sort of rating, it was noticeable that connections intended to run the son of Network in the Imperial Cup at Sandown yesterday only for that meeting to go for a burton, but that might turn out to be a blessing in disguise as the strappy chasing type now gets to run for a listed prize instead.

The latter has to find a bit to reverse Leopardstown placings with Cedarwood Road, but considering he was having his first outing over hurdles at the Dublin venue and, he’s gone on to make great strides at Navan since Jessica Harrington’s gelding has a better chance of doing so than his market price suggests. Waited within mid-division at the Co Meath venue, the son of Elusive Pimpernel made nice headway to race handy rounding the home turn and from that point onwards he stayed on strongest of all to record a convincing success. Clocking a fair time figure for a maiden hurdle, the five-year-old thoroughly deserves a crack at something tougher and he rates a fair each-way play at his morning odds.