Sunday racing tips: Mark Howard best bets

Despite the success of Monte Cristo in the finale, it wasn’t a particularly fruitful afternoon at Kempton on Saturday for Nicky Henderson. The champion trainer saw his Champion Hurdle winner Epatante turned over at prohibitive odds in the Christmas Hurdle, while Santini put in his second lacklustre performance at the Sunbury track finishing a well held fifth.

The Seven Barrows team will be hoping for a much more profitable afternoon on Sunday with Altior and Shishkin set to line up in the Desert Orchid Chase and Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase respectively and anything but a win for the pair will be deemed disappointing.

Henderson also introduces a potentially smart juvenile in the opening Introductory Hurdle at 12.45. Like Shishkin, HEROSS DU SEUIL is owned by Joe Donnelly and is a gelded son of Rail Link.

A three lengths winner of his only AQPS Flat race at Moulins (right-handed) in August over twelve furlongs, he quickened away inside the final furlong to win hard held. Previously handled by Mickael Seror, he didn’t look short of speed and Kempton ought to play to his strengths. With Her Indoors (Listed placed on her jumping debut) and another French import, Siroco Jo, amongst the opposition it won’t be straightforward, but Heross Du Seul is taken to win on his British and jumping debut en route to bigger and better things.

Torigni warrants the utmost respect in the final event at 3.40 having run well on his British debut behind Albert’s Back (won again since). Conceding four pounds to Mick Easterby’s winner, there is some mileage in his rating of 132.

However, that comment also applies to CADZAND who makes his handicap debut off 129. A winning pointer for Tom Lacey, the Stowaway gelding has always had a lofty reputation and, while he failed to win either of his bumpers, Dan Skelton’s charge was placed behind the likes of Son of Camas and Sizable Sam. Having got bogged down in testing conditions on his first run over hurdles at Ayr, he produced a smooth performance to win at Warwick last time. A five and a half lengths victor, he has a high cruising speed and this track should bring out the best in him, although it will be the five year old’s first run going right handed.

Provided Limerick gets the go ahead following its early morning inspection, Henry De Bromhead is set to unleash GRADY HOLLOW in the concluding bumper at 3.45.

Runner-up behind his new stablemate Holymacapony in a point-to-point in February, he went one better when returning to action in October winning by six lengths at Castletown-Geoghegan. Colin Bowe’s Beat Hollow gelding was subsequently bought privately by Robcour for a six figure sum and joined his current yard. Barry O’Neill rode him in both his points and maintains the partnership on his Rules debut. He reportedly did a good piece of work at Monksgrange point-to-point course a couple of weeks ago and is in fine shape.