Andy Holding's Tuesday Racing Tips

It’s been well documented that Sue Smith’s yard has endured a lean start to the campaign, but with the green shoots of recovery beginning in earnest with two winners at Uttoxeter on Sunday, a good deal more confidence is attached to the chances of FLAMBOYANT JAYOUX (best price 11-4) keeping the ball rolling in the right direction for the Yorkshire handler in this opening maiden hurdle.

Virtually untraceable on his rules debut at Carlisle, the son of Crossharbour proved a totally different proposition second time around over today’s course and a repeat of a similar level of form will surely see him competitive once again. Although fading late on, he helped force a pace strong enough to produce an above-average speed figure for the track and that performance should provide him with enough knowledge and experience to carry forward into today’s contest back at the same venue. Of his main two rivals in the market, Emma Lamb has to be respected on first run for Dr Newland, but it’s still worth pointing out that she is only rated 106, and while Barrowlands comes from a similar background as the selection, his opening rules debut didn’t exactly get the pulses racing being beaten nearly 30 lengths at Hereford.

If the speed figures are to be believed, the best novice chase run in Ireland so far was the one won by Ronald Pump at Fairyhouse 14 days ago, and having played a fairly significant role in that above-average contest, GALVIN (best price 5-1) is fancied to fly the flag for the solidity of the form.

Helping force a strong pace from the start, Gordon Elliot’s inmate was in the heat of battle until headed two out and although he could only find the one pace from that juncture, he did manage to keep on well enough to finish a respectable fourth and ahead of the likes of Bapaume, Smoking Gun Cap York and Insult to name but four. Prior to that creditable effort, the son of Gold Well was in the process of running a big race until capsizing four out behind the potentially top-class recruit Battleoverdoyen, so it’s clear he’s been taking on a fairly high standard of opponent on his two start over fences so far to date. The highest rated over hurdles of all the runners in today’s field, the five-year-old can make his presence felt despite the nagging doubt that he may want better ground to be at his absolute best.

Although CUNEO (best price 16-1) was ultimately well beaten in the same event, that no show can be put down to a very bad peck on landing at an early juncture that caused him to lose his place and totally throw him off his stride and he’s worth a small interest to see whether he can put that tame effort behind him and get back on track. A very smart staying handicap hurdler last season, his fourth in the Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham Festival proved that he could mix it with the big boys and, always regarded as a chaser by connections, it would come as a disappointment if he doesn’t make his mark in this sphere at some stage.

Dark Regard has posted some big numbers in victory at Southwell of late and will be a potent force if handling tonight’s new surface, but the vote just goes in favour of GET BOOSTING (best price 8-1) who is one of the few course winners in the field.

Keith Dalgleish’s gelding impressed by the way he took to the tapeta surface at the first time of asking when staying on strongly to get the better of a competitive field over five-furlongs a month ago and although he failed in his bid to repeat the dose in a similar heat at Newcastle last time out, his draw ultimately led to his downfall. He did, however, come home nicely against the track bias to finish a creditable third behind Reassure and even though he may have to raise his game to bridge the gap with his old rival, a return to today’s sharper track and extra furlong might help in that department.

ROCKET ACTION (NAP) (best price 5-2) clocked a big speed figure when crushing his opponents over tonight C&D last time out and he’s strongly fancied to keep his unbeaten track record intact on his third visit to the Dunstall Park venue.

Held up off the strong pace 20 days ago, Robert Cowell’s grey still had plenty on his plate as the field turned for home, but in finding an electric chance of gear inside the final two furlongs, he breezed past some very useful sprinters to score with plenty in hand. Indeed, his finishing split of 22.4 is one of the quickest sectionals from two out recorded at this track for some time, and with the runner-up, Watchable, going on to prove the validity of the form at Newcastle last week, it would be a disappointing if this improving three-year-old couldn’t follow suit despite the competitive nature of tonight’s heat.