Andy Holding's Tuesday Racing Tips

David Maxwell may have his critics among some of the racing fraternity for his unique style in the saddle, but you certainly can’t knock his eye for a decent equine specimen and in the shape of DOLPHIN SQUARE (NAP) (best price 3-1), the Corinthian pilot looks to have a pretty useful prospect on his hands. 

On his first start for new connections over today’s course 29 days ago, the son of Shantou was sent to the front at an early stage but during the first mile or so of the contest he was given no peace by the similarly aggressively ridden Jaytrack Parkhomes. Having gone hammer and tongues down the back straight with Colin Tizzard’s inmate, one would have thought the five-year-old would have been softened up sufficiently enough for him to be a sitting duck for the likes of the well-backed pair Saint Des Vassy and Haldon Hill on the run for home, but in finding extra reserves from the back of the second last, he somehow managed to fend off the persistent challenge of his main market rivals. The fact that Jaytrack Parkhomes ended up getting stuffed 51 lengths puts his performance into some sort of context and then when you analyse his overall time figure and final lap sectionals it also reveals he ran to a pretty high standard.

The fastest on the card by some way in all departments, this lightly-raced sort clearly has a big engine and even though today’s contest contains the likes of the potentially useful Blackjack Kentucky and solid form-line and Cheltenham Festival refugee Ask Dillon, it would still be disappointing if he wasn’t good enough to give that pair plenty to think about despite slight fears over the quicker ground.

Only five runners go to post but they’ve all got plenty of potential and despite the market suggesting NEVER DO NOTHING (best price 11-2) has quite a bit on his plate against several rivals with sexier profiles, Andrew Balding’s gelding could turn out to be the surprise package. 

A big eye-catcher on his first start as a two-year-old at Kempton, the son of Casamento duly left that run well behind when scoring on his next outing at Thirsk. Despite not handling the tight track that day, he still managed to come through the test with a bit to spare and it was no surprise to see him well-backed off the back of that effort on his final start to the campaign at Pontefract.

Once again finding himself in a spot of bother with three furlongs to run, the powerful three-year-old got himself out of jail with a smart turn of foot in the closing stages and the winning margin of three-quarters-of-a-length doesn’t really do justice to the overall performance. Clearly a strong stayer, today’s galloping track and step up in trip should prove to be right up his street and hailing from a stable that seem to have their inmates well forward during the early stages of the season, this slow-learning type can really come of age now gelded.