Andy Holding's Tuesday Racing Tips

Potentially, a fascinating clash between two seemingly well-handicapped novices in the shape of MORNING SPIRIT (best price 10-3) and Demopolis and the former just gains the verdict on account of his strong-looking form behind Highway One O Two at Plumpton last time.

Relatively easy to back at the Sussex track, Jonjo O’Neill’s gelding ended up being the only one to get within shouting distance of the impressive winner and considering he was quite a fair bit off the pace with a circuit to race, it was by no means a bad return in the context of what he was facing that day (winner gone on to land the Grade 2 Dovecote Hurdle). Prior to that praiseworthy effort, the son of Milan had twice caught the eye in similarly useful novice events at Newbury and with both of those two races working out well subsequently, his body of work is clearly gathering some traction. Handed a mark of 120 for his handicap debut seems fair enough given the opposition he’s been facing and with his main market rival only just scrambling home at Ludlow last week, the five-year-old rates the value call at the morning prices.

MICK THE JIVER (NAP) (best price 10-3) was unable to capitalise on what looked a favourable mark back over hurdles last time out, but at the same time, he didn’t run too badly given how the race developed (slow run), and he’s fancied to readjust his rangefinder well enough to get back on track now returning to a discipline he enjoys best.

A proper heavy ground merchant, the 10-year-old grey has twice been seen to good effect around today’s venue and having landed a decent contest on his first start at the Co Meath circuit back in 2017, he duplicated the feat on his return visit three outings ago. Always travelling strongly that day back in December, the son of Apple Tree only need to be nudged out late on to account for some useful opponents and with the time figure he posted suggesting it was a fair effort for a race of its kind, it’s clear he’s capable of running to a decent level given his ideal conditions. Outclassed but not disgraced by any means in the Thyestes Chase at Gowran on his next start, Eoghan O’Grady’s inmate is probably at a stage of his career when he’s better off bullying weaker rivals rather than mixing it against the top echelon and he’s fancied to carry off that theory at a track where he has a perfect 2-2 record.