Andy Holding's Tuesday Racing Tips

STARLIGHT COURT (best price 6-1) ran incredibly well for a horse having his first outing under rules for two years over today’s course last time out and he’s strongly fancied to back up that initial performance and go one place better on his return visit to the Midland track.

In reasonable form going into that contest two weeks ago thanks to a victory in the point-to-point field, it was difficult to know how he would cope with the drop down to the minimum trip. Answering that question in the affirmative, Matt Sheppard’s gelding travelled extremely well throughout most of the journey until finding the more race fit, Impressive Duke, just a little too hot to handle in the final half a mile. Keeping on well once headed on the approach to the last, the eight-year-old stayed on well to finish nicely clear of the rest and hailing from a yard whose new recruits often improve immeasurably for their initial first outing, the son of Court Cave is expected to find the necessary improvement back over a more suitable trip on ground that shouldn’t bog him down.

ADMIRALS BAY (best price 7-2) was a shade disappointing at Newbury last time out, but in mitigation, Andrew Balding’s gelding probably wasn’t entirely at home on the rain-softened ground and he’s afforded another chance to replicate the performance he posted the time before at Yarmouth.

Having taken on a decent standard of opponent in two above-average novice events at Chepstow and Newbury, the son of Mount Nelson seemed to have been given a fair chance by the handicapper off a mark of 57, and that proved to be the case at the seaside venue a month ago. Despite having plenty to do at the halfway stage, the scopey three-year-old cut down his 10 rivals in the home straight to assert his superiority close home and on the evidence of that effort he looked ready for a step up in class. Unfortunately, the underfoot conditions at the Berkshire track 19 days ago prevented him from performing up his best and he had to settle for a minor role, but with today’s surface offering no issues whatsoever, there can’t be too many excuses if he fails to deliver the goods with seemingly plenty in his favour.