Andy Holding's Tuesday Racing Tips

COAL STOCK (best price 4-1) was a massive eye-catcher here at the last meeting eight days ago and even though that runner-up spot looked to be propelling him nicely into handicap company, David Evans’ inmate still comes under the microscope in this novice event – especially now the cat is out of the bag. Down the field and only showing a modicum of promise on his first two starts, the Red Jazz colt really came alive at the Welsh venue in what appeared a fairly tough race on paper (runner-up We Are The World said to be Archie Watson’s best 2yo) and the way he finished off his race from an unpromising position three out suggested he contained far more ability that he was prepared to show on his previous outings. Obviously he has to prove himself on slightly softer going here this afternoon, but at least he’s returning to a course that he clearly enjoys and he should be good enough to make the frame at the very least on the evidence of that latest display.

FOOTSTEPS FOREVER (best price 13-8) ran really nicely on debut at Chester and it was no great surprise that Mark Johnston’s inmate found the necessary improvement to get off the mark at the second time of asking at Pontefract last time out. Setting just modest early fractions at the Yorkshire, the daughter of Footstepsinthesand hit the accelerator rounding the home turn and staying on strongest of all up the home straight, she held her rivals at bay to win with a bit up her sleeve. Having the natural run-style to execute similar tactics at this track, this tall, imposing filly should be hard to catch from the front.

A modest maiden on the Flat, ARTISTE CELEBRE (best price 15-2) ran with much more encouragement for new connections on only his third start over hurdles and providing he can build on that promising performance, there’s no reason why he won’t go close to finally getting off the mark. On his first start for Eoin Doyle, the five-year-old chestnut was noted making some excellent late headway to finish a creditable runner-up to the useful Abraham at Cork 11 days ago, and with the overall time figure and sectionals of that contest at the Mallow venue suggest it was a pretty good race of its kind.

AMAZING ALICE (NAP) (best price 6-4) has taken really well to the artificial surfaces and she’s fancied to back up her latest two performances and complete a quick hat trick. Archie Watson’s filly first sprung to prominence when making all the running to score in a fast time over tonight’s C&D two starts ago and she duly followed that effort up with another all-the-way success at Wolverhampton last time out. Although she faces some stiff competitive on her return visit to the Essex venue, the fact that she’s already proven on this challenging surface has to give her some sort of an advantage over her rivals, and if she can get to the front from her draw in box four, she could take plenty of pegging back.