Andy Holding's Tuesday Racing Tips

Global Heat ran well in what looked a smart maiden at Chelmsford on debut (winner scored again), but FARO ANGEL (best price 5-1) has already proven he’s no back number himself and with proven turf form – one of which came over today’s track – on his side, Luca Cumani’s substantial colt is fancied to give the jolly plenty to thing about at the very least.

Slowly away and green on debut at Ascot, the son of Dark Angel showed in the latter stages that day he’s got a decent amount of ability and although he made heavy weather of vindicating that initial impression here last time out, he still shaped as though he hadn’t got a clue what he was doing. That said, it was pleasing to see him knuckle down to the task at hand close home and with today’s extra furlong looking likely to suit, he rates the proverbial each-way bet to nothing in race where surely only a handful count.

Gordon Elliot looks to hold all the aces here, and with Elysian Plains not appearing the most reliable of individuals (bolted on the way to the start and unseated at the first last time out), SMILING ELIZA (best price 2-1) rates the percentage call of the pair. 

Runner-up in her first two starts, including behind her stable mate and old rival at Killarney, the daughter of Rock Of Gibraltar finally got off the mark with a stylish win at Down Royal two starts ago and even though she failed in her bid to follow up last time out at Perth, she clearly bumped into a useful sort for the time of year. A decent jumper who will enjoy the quick conditions here today, she’s fancied to track the favourite through before hopefully being deliver with a telling blow late on.

Shady McCoy has tons of ability and certainly deserves to win a race after all of his exploits in top-class handicaps this season, but at the same time, he doesn’t win very often and is arguably not one to take too short a price about. With that in mind, the value each-way alternative looks to be HAJJAM (best price 5-1) as he arrives here off the back of a smart effort both visually and on the numbers at Ayr.

Held up towards the rear at the Scottish track of solid fractions, David O’Meara’s gelding pick off his rivals one by one down the straight and then had enough in the locker to repel the late challenge of Alemaratalyoum.

In the light of what the runner-up and third have achieved since, the form looks solid, and with his favoured cut in the ground and likely sound pace set fair (Muntadab and Masham Star confirmed front runners), the son of Paco Boy should have the perfect set up to deliver the goods again.

CRASH HELMET (NAP) (best price 9-2) may lack the experience of most in this tricky concluding contest, but he does appear to be going the right way and he’s fancied to make his presence felt on handicap debut. Slowly away and green on debut at Wolverhampton, George Scott’s gelding did well to finish second given how much ground he gave away at the Midland venue and a similar story ensued over tonight’s course two starts ago.

Breaking much cleaner at Newcastle last time out, the son three-year-old was always in control of matters from an early stage and in only having to be pushed out in the final furlong, he readily held his field at bay. On the evidence of those three runs, a mark of 69 doesn’t appear too severe and having already tasted action at tonight’s track, there’s no reason why he won’t go close to adding to his latest victory over a trip that should suit.