Andy Holding's Tuesday Horse Racing Tips

Once again VEINARD (NAP) (best price 9-2) got the sort of trouble in running at Fairyhouse last week befitting of horse riddled with bad luck in these big-field handicaps, but he remains one to keep on side despite the obvious risks attached. Held up towards the back of the field in usually fashion, Gordon Elliot’s charge was going better than anything touching down after the third last, but from that point onwards his passage to the winning line was anything but a smooth one and in the end he had to settle for the runner-up spot behind the smart Thomas Hobson, who conversely received an uninterrupted run. Clearly better suited by the quicker surface rather than the soft winter ground he’d encountered many times previously, the son of Shaanmer still has more to offer and given his ability to ease himself into the business end of a race without too fuss effort, he always remains a moth-to-lightbulb bet for any discerning each-way backer. Following his on the Flat recently, Rocanga rates the main danger.

BIG BAD DREAM (best price 6-1) ran with a good deal of promise on his first start at Ayr back in January and is fancied to go well again with that all-important experience under his belt. In a true run race at the Scottish track, Donald Whillan’s inmate impressed with the way he stuck stoically to the task at hand inside the last half-mile of the contest despite not looking overly happy with the very testing conditions that day and that attitude was one of many fine components to that opening performance. Moreover, the form of the race has worked out well since with the runner-up and seventh both going on to record victories since and with the likelihood of better ground and stiffer track suiting this son of Mountain High, he rates a decent each-way bet at his morning price.

The ratings suggest ROCK THE WORLD (best price 18-1) has a mountain to climb up against Un De Sceaux and Co in this Grade 1 event, but it’s the time of year when the form book can sometimes go out of the window and it wouldn’t be the biggest shock in any case if Jessica Harrington’s charge were to oblige. A genuine Graded performer when ground conditions (good) were in his favour two seasons ago, the son of Orpen rather lost his way last during the last campaign, so much so that connections took the decision to tweak his wind in order to get him back on track. Off the track for five months, the nine-year-old made a sparkling return to action following his operation with a performance of some authority in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham and on the evidence of that display, he can more than hold his own against today’s opposition at a track where he has a fine record. Furthermore, his final circuit time at Prestbury Park of 3.07.6 compared to Un De Sceaux’s 3.14.1 over the very same track the day before suggests he shouldn’t have too many problems lying up with the speed here today and hailing from a yard that are turning base metal into gold at present, a huge display looks on the cards from a horse coming here fresher than most.

Disko rates the clear form pick following his excellent effort when third to Our Duke and Coney Island in the Grade 1 Neville Hotels Chase at Leopardstown back in December and his last two performances against top-class opposition have only further strengthened his claims. From a stable in rampant form, he clearly is the one to beat, but there’s also a strong possibility that Noel Meade could have the 1-2 here in the shape of A GENIE IN ABOTTLE (best price 6-1) and he appeals as the value bet in the without the favourite market. A useful hurdler, the Beneficial gelding, however, has really come into his own since switching attentions to chasing and other than a slightly disappointing effort last time out when he probably didn’t stay the trip in the four-miler at Cheltenham, he’s enjoyed a pretty productive start to his career in his new discipline. A fairly versatile sort regards to ground conditions and tactics, the six-year-old can punch above his weight in the first-time cheekpieces.