Andy Holding's Tuesday Racing Tips

REPUTATION (best price 5-1) failed to cut much ice in the Great St Wilfred consolation race at Ripon last time out, but there’s a decent chance he will cast that modest performance aside as he returns that he appears to excel better than anywhere else. Although he finished down the field at the Yorkshire venue last time out, the speed figure of that 6f contest actually pointed towards it being a better race than the big one itself won by Mattmu half an hour later and with the likes of Guishan and Hee Haw already proving the value of the form with victories subsequently, it’s clear John Quinn’s charge didn’t run too badly after all in finishing mid-division. Prior to that fair effort, the son of Royal Applause had proven his liking for today’s undulations by capturing a big-field handicap over today’s C&D on Derby Day so returning to the Surrey track off only a 1lb higher mark and with conditions to suit, hope is high that the four-year-old will at least run his race at the very least.

WATCOMBE HEIGHTS (best price 5-2) was a big eye-catcher in a similar race here last week and providing he doesn’t bounce to the moon off the back of that excellent performance (first run for two years), he looks to have an outstanding chance of getting off the mark at second time of asking over hurdles. A bumper winner over today’s course back in 2014, Martin Hill’s inmate has clearly had one or two issues being so lightly raced, but on the evidence of what we saw here 13 days ago, he clearly retains quite a bit of ability. Although never really a threat to the easy winner, Gettysburg Address, the Scorpion gelding stayed on pleasingly in the last mile of the contest to get within nine lengths of the winner close home and with seven-year-old likely to be ridden with a little more positivity here this afternoon with that all-important run under his belt, a more prominent display should be forthcoming.

ALDRIN (NAP) (best price 7-4) may not have beaten a great deal last time out at Bangor, but he couldn’t have won any more easily and with the distinct prospect of more to come, the improving four-year-old is fancied to overcome his toughest task to date. Despite an early mistake and almost being forced off the track at the Welsh venue 13 days ago, David Pipe’s inmate still had far too much quality for his opposition that afternoon, and without coming out of second gear, he readily pulled clear in the closing stages. How much he had in hand is anyone’s guess, but he has the size and scope to do really well in this sphere and off the sort of mark at the moment that can be readily exploited, it would be disappointing if he didn’t do just that today over a course that should suit.