Andy Holding's Tuesday Horse Racing Tips

There haven’t been too many strongly-run juvenile contests run so far this season, but one of the notable exceptions was the one won by Coeur De Lion at Wetherby a few weeks ago and the one that shaped better than her finishing position suggested that day was HINT OF GREY (best price 11-1). Making her hurdling debut following a decent campaign on the Flat, Don Cantillon’s charge worked her way in to the contest from the rear of the field to hold every chance going down to the last, but the exertions to get to the leaders told on her in the closing stages and she weakened into fifth on the run-in. That said, her sectionals times from going away from the stands to the last flight indicate she ran just as well as the big guns that afternoon and being as she gets all the allowances as juvenile, the daughter of Mastercraftsman should figure prominently providing the ground isn’t too sticky (has run well on soft but probably wants it closer to good).

The feature of REMEMBER FOREVER’s(NAP) (best price 6-4) victory at Lingfield last time out was his superb jumping and that can count for plenty while he still has the chance to race in this sort of grade. Not only did he impress when winning with plenty in hand at the Surrey venue, his time figure compared to the 123-rated Royal Vacation on the same card suggests an 8lb rise in the weights won’t be enough to prevent Richard Rowe’s inmate from following up and, with a similarly forceful ride, he can make all.

Although it goes against the grain to back a horse that has no previous Fibresand experience, the price is big enough for FIRST WHEAT (best price 16-1) to warrant a shot in the dark that he does handle the surface at the first time of asking. The last time we saw Mick Easterby’s inmate on these shores he ran an absolute blinder to finish a close-up third in a very strongly-run handicap on the turf at Nottingham and given that he displays plenty of knee action, there’s every hope that today’s deep terrain will prove ideal for the son of Monsieur Bond.

Without stating the flaming obvious, C&D form is massive at today’s venue, so with that in mind, EXCELLENT AIM (best price 6-1) is worth more than a second look returning to one of his happy hunting grounds. On the three times George Margarson’s charge has shipped up here, he’s always managed to run to a decent standard (form figures read 212) and on the latest of those performances he finished a creditable runner-up to similar course specialist, Crosse Fire, off a 5lb higher mark. On top of the list of positives, he shaped well at a track that wouldn’t have necessarily have played into his strengths last time out, but at least that effort should ensure he’s spot on for this contest coming from a favourable low draw.