Andy Holding's Tuesday Racing Preview

Local trainer Paul Nichols has managed to scoop this big, early-season prize five times in the past, so there’s a decent chance that the Ditcheat maestro would have had this race in mind for both POLITOLOGUE (best price 5-2) and SAN BENEDETO (best price 8-1) for some time. 
The former was arguably unlucky not to capture the Doom Bar Maghull Novices Chase at the Aintree Grand National meeting last season as he seemed to have the race in safe keeping only to trip over himself after jumping the last when two lengths clear. Had he stood up, it would have been a fitting end to his campaign following a brave effort on ground too quick for his liking in the JLT Chase at Cheltenham a month earlier and as he came to hand really early this time last year, there’s every chance the grey son of Politologue will be cherry-ripe on his return to action.

The latter ran out the beneficiary of his stable mate’s demise at Aintree, but at the same time no one could deny him his day in the sun he’d certainly earned his stripes the hard way in the build up to the race courtesy of several big-name scalps in many hard-knocking well-run handicaps. Indeed, with the likes of Ar Mad and Gino Trail in today’s line-up, the race should be run at the kind of tempo the son of Layman enjoys and following a nice prep run over hurdles at Kempton 16 days ago, he, too, should be at fever-pitch to run his customary honest race.

It’s been a fairly slow start to the campaign for Jessica Harrington and following the added body blow with Our Duke also at the weekend, she could do with a tonic in the shape of MAGIC OF LIGHT (NAP) (best price 6-4). Winner of the Martinstown Opportunity Conditional Series at the Punchestown Festival on her final start last season, the daughter of Flemensfirth made a pleasing start to her chase career at Thurles 12 days ago when staying on nicely all the way to the line to chase home her main market rival, La Bella Vida. Jumping pretty well in the main, she may have actually come out on top that day had she not handed an advantage to the eventual winner thanks to been nearly carried off the track at the fourth last, so under the circumstances she did really well to only go under by just over a length. Moreover, the time figure posted by the front two at the Co Tipperary venue suggested it was an above-average mares’ only contest and if repeating that level of form with a clear round here this afternoon, the six-year-old should prove difficult to beat.

NORSE LIGHT (best price 11-2) couldn’t hold a candle to the well-handicapped Cave Top over today’s course last time out but even in finishing a creditable second, he still clocked the sort of speed figure that entitles him to maximum respect back at the same track this afternoon. Given that the winner totally dominated the race from start to finish and most of the hold-up horse never looked like landing a meaningful blow, David Dennis’ charge deserves extra praise for his efforts and with today’s slightly longer trip likely to help his cause no end, the six-year-old should be right in the thick of the action at the business end. 

MAJBOOR (best price 13-8) has got the sort of profile that would put some punters off, but his speed figures suggest he’s just been extremely unlucky on several occasions and he’s worth another chance back up that view in what looks a fairly mundane maiden. Last time out, for instance, he clocked his fastest ever time and yet still managed to come unstuck and unless there’s something extra special lurking in the unraced pile, he should have enough experience and quality to capture a race of this nature.