Andy Holding's Tuesday Racing Tips

Based on the amount of rain that fell at Kilbeggan last night (went from good-to-firm to soft within two hours), there’s every chance that conditions at tonight’s Mayo venue will have changed significantly from the forecast good to firm ground. Misty Mountain would have been the automatic selection on a quick surface, but given that she’s an unknown quantity with any ease underfoot, she’s passed over on this occasion in favour of LES ARCEAUX (best price 9-2) who proved his liking for testing conditions at Gowran last time out. Racing on heavy ground for the first time, Johnny Murtagh’s inmate really relished the arduous nature of the going and in powering clear in the latter stages, he won in the manner of a horse that is clearly well handicapped. Only up 6lb for that romp, one could easily argue that he still has plenty in hand over the assessor at present, and with the likelihood on some ease underfoot here tonight (forecast showers all day), the son of Arcano can once again make his presence felt.

As per usually, RULER OF FRANCE (best price 15/2) was entitled to need his first run of the season at Clonmel 54 days ago (0-8 off the back of a big break), but now likely to be a good deal tighter and sharper for that initial outing, the six-year-old can step up to the plate at a track which very much suits his run style (2-2 at the Mayo circuit). Best when allowed to bowl along in front, the Holy Roman Emperor gelding has twice been seen to good effect around tonight’s sharp right-handed venue and on his last visit here twelve months ago, he executed those tactics to a nicety over the very same C&D. Versatile regards ground, he has a nice inside draw in stall two to work from and providing he can ping the lids and get to the first bend (comes up fairly quickly) ahead of the other potential pace angle, Old Time Waltz (not guaranteed to stay this trip), there’s a decent chance he can outrun his odds.

High Haven is bound to be all the rage as he bids to atone for being unluckily thrown out by the stewards at the Curragh last time out, but at the same time, it’s hard not to resist a few quid on POWERSBOMB (best price 6/1), as he makes plenty of appeal as an each-way alternative. Better known for his exploits during the National Hunt season (fourth at the Cheltenham Festival), Brian McMahon’s gelding was well backed to make a successful start to his career on the Flat at Leopardstown last time out, and although he ran with a good deal of credit to finish third (beaten six lengths), he left the impression that he could have finished a little closer. A tardy start at the Dublin track left him in a poor early track position and even though he looked quite threatening as he began his run rounding the home turn, he could never quite get on terms with the leaders who just kept churning out the fractions up front. Drawn favourable in stall one tonight, hopefully he can break out of boxes on terms this evening, as there’s no doubt that he has the ability to go close in a race of this nature.