Andy Holding's Tuesday Racing Tips

UGO GREGORY (NAP) (best price 7-4) ran out a pretty impressive winner over the C&D seven days ago and he has to be rated a decent bet to follow suit on his return visit. Having previously been tried over seven-furlongs and a mile without much success, the decision was made to drop the son of Gregorian back down in trip to see whether that might bring about a change in fortunes. and so it proved. Always travelling well off the back of strong fractions, Tim Easterby’s gelding picked up the running going well two out and from that point onwards he never looked in any threat. Clocking a very smart speed figure into the bargain, the three-year-old ran way beyond the expectations of a horse rated just 58, and with connections quite within their rights to strike while the iron is hot before being reassessed, it would be disappointing if he failed to deliver the goods for the second time in a week under identical conditions.

Other than one tame effort when racing far too keen over an extended 2m2f at Chester, DIOCLETIAN (best price 9-4) has shown a real natural propensity for soft ground and following another sound effort with give underfoot last time out, Andrew Balding’s inmate is fancied to regain the winning thread.

Having run a solid race when runner-up over 1m6f at Sandown previously, the son of Camelot headed back to the Roodeye with high hopes that he could go one place better, but following what could only be described as a nightmare passage around the tight, left-handed track, he once again had to settle for a minor role. Seemingly full of running heading inside the final half a mile, the four-year-old just got caught in traffic at a vital stage and by the time he’d wormed his way out of trouble, the eventual winner, Overhaugh Street, had obtained first run from the front. On the only other time Diocletian had encountered soft ground and a big, galloping track, he ran out a comfortable winner at Doncaster this time last year and with further rain likely to make sure this contest will take some getting, he’s expected to put his stamina to good use.