Andy Holding's Tuesday Racing Tips

Nestor Park was found out when pitched into Grade 1 company at Newbury last time out, but today’s assignment represents a good opportunity to Ben Pauling’s gelding to get back on track, and while the temptation is to side with him on his retrieval mission, the wiser betting option at the prices might be to look towards ARTHUR MAC w/o Favourite (best price 5/1) in the ‘without the favourite’ market.

A big eye-catcher at Bangor back in December on his first outing for new connections, Henry Oliver’s gelding was backed as if defeat was out of the question on his latest outing at Catterick and although he made heavy weather of landing the gamble, a bad mistake at the second last arguably prevented him from being as impressive as what he might have been. On the evidence of that performance at the Yorkshire venue, he was getting stronger the further the race progressed and with today’s trip likely to bring about further improvement, the six-year-old chestnut has the qualities to be heavily involved in the nitty gritty of the race.

A wide-open race on paper, but TAKINGRISKS (NAP) (best price 9-2) arrives here with by far and away the best form next to his name and he rates a cracking bet at the morning prices to gain his just rewards for his recent endeavours.

A ready winner over hurdles on his seasonal reappearance at Ayr, Nicky Richards’ inmate only narrowly failed to supplement those gains when a strong-finishing runner-up to Vintage Clouds when reverting back to fences at Haydock on his next start. Sticking to the larger obstacles last time out, the son of Golden Tornado stayed on well in the latter stages to finish a creditable third behind the highly-progressive Lake View Lad in the Rowland Meyrick Chase at Wetherby and with the likes of Wakanda (won at Haydock), Crosspark (third in the Classic Chase at Warwick) and Allysson Monterg (fourth in the Cotswold Chase) all going on to frank the form next time out, the 10-year-old probably ran close to a career-high. Amazingly dropped two pounds since, today’s stiffer track and softer ground should play right into his strengths and at top price 9-2, it would be disappointing not to see him figure prominently with a clear round.

J’AI FROID (best price 10-1) has shaped like an out-and-out stayer on more than one occasion and following two promising performances in useful novice hurdle company, Ben Case’s gelding is fancied to put that theory to the test.

Although only fifth behind several promising sorts at Chepstow two starts ago, he gave out plenty of hope for the further with the way he stuck to his task in valiant fashion and he also ran a similar race at Uttoxeter last time out. Outpaced and towards the rear early at the Midland track, the son of Flemensfirth stayed on well in the closing stages to finish an honourable fourth in quite a hot little contest on the speed figures (did jump to the right late on), and with today’s stiff test likely to play into his strengths, the lightly-raced six-year-old can reward a speculative each-way punt with some firms offering the golden four-place nugget.

A real head-scratcher for punters not knowing what to expect from Éclat Des Mottes after an abysmal display at Fairyhouse last time out (probably yard form at the time), so with that in mind, it may pay to seek some value in a couple of outsiders who run the track well in the shape of BRITISH ART (best price 16-1) and THE WHITE VOLCANO (best price 18-1).

The former has quite a bit to find based on the official ratings, but as he’s often left the impression that he’s potentially a good bit better than his current assessments, he’s has to be worth the risk at his morning odds. A game winner over today’s course back in December, it’s worth noting that his final lap time of 3.09.2 was two seconds quicker than Presented Well over the same C&D, so based on those findings alone he’s clearly capable of running to a level far greater than his 103 rating. Although the son of Iffraaj just got worried out of the argument close home at Punchestown last time out, the way he travelled and quickened up into the lead approaching the last suggested he’s a horse on top of his game at present and with a high cruising speed one of his chief assets, the seven-year-old should have the capabilities to sit comfortably in behind whatever pace is set before being delivered with his usual potent late surge.

The latter has been off the track for 151 days, so clearly comes with risks attached, too, but it’s worth noting that two of his best career performances have taken place over today’s course, and that surely has to count for something in the grand scheme of things. Indeed, one of those efforts when scoring over three miles back in May was achieved in a big speed figure and with today’s decent conditions also likely to suit too, the locally-trained seven-year-old may be capable of outrunning his odds if somewhere near the same form this afternoon.