Andy Holding's Tuesday Racing Tips

HOMETOWN BOY (best price 11-4) faces two rivals with big reputations, but there’s an argument to be made that Stuart Edmund’s gelding has achieved more so far over hurdles and for that reason, he rates the value call of the trio.

A promising third behind Espoir De Romany (won off 134 since) at Warwick back in November in a race that has worked out supremely well since, the son of Curtain Time got bogged down in the mud at Ludlow next time out when strongly fancied to get off the mark over hurdles. However, the five-year-old didn’t have to wait too long before laying the ghost to rest as he stayed on far too powerfully for his nine rivals over today’s C&D last time out and with the numbers pointing towards the performance being one of some repute, he’s fancied to take another huge step forward against a better standard of opponent.

QUANTUM OF SOLACE (best price 9-4) might have received quite a few rotten tomatoes by the critics, but hopefully the horse named after Bond film number 24 won’t come in for the same sort of stick as she bids to follow up her recent Fakenham success back over fences.

Making her seasonal reappearance at the Norfolk track after a 302-day break, Fergal O’Brien’s mare was fairly easy to back, but after travelling nicely throughout the early stages, she came with a well-timed run to claim the spoils late on. Furthermore, her winning time figure was pretty useful for the grade and having also finished a creditable runner-up in this race last year, she has a decent chance of going one place better under today’s quicker surface than she faced twelve months ago.

DESERT LAND (best price 9-1) shaped with conspicuous promise on his first start for new connections at Lingfield last time out and with expected improvement to come over tonight’s extra furlong, Jim Boyle’s inmate is worth a small speculator in a trappy-looking affair.

Disappointing on several occasions for David Simcock, the son of Kodiac had subsequently been gelded and given plenty of time to acclimatise to his new surrounding and on the evidence of his display at the Surrey venue off the back of a 107-day break, he may be capable of repaying new connections’ faith. Staying on well in the closing stages, the four-year-old posted some decent backend sectionals in a well-run affair and with some of his better efforts in the past coming over 7f/1m, the step up in trip and tonight’s longer straight should suit if his mind is now in the right place.

ILHABELA FACT (NAP) (best price 5-2) caught a tartar in the shape of the rapidly-improving City Tour over tonight’s C&D last time out, but he certainly did more than enough in defeat to warrant another crack in this similar contest.

A four-time winner over tonight’s course, Tony Carroll’s inmate has taken a little while to find his feet since returning to the fray this winter, but the signs were all there 15 days ago that a return to winning ways were imminent. Keeping on well despite getting outpaced by the winner’s smart change of gear from the two pole, the son of High Chaparral still managed to post some useful numbers in defeat and hailing from a yard still in blistering form, he’s fancied to provide his Worcestershire handler with more cheer.