Cheltenham Tips: Andy Holding's Wednesday Racing Tips

As predicted, given the rain followed by a drying wind, the conditions were extremely testing on day one of the Festival and that’s probably not exactly ideal for Envoi Allen, whereas SPORTING JOHN (best price 9-2) has already proven himself as a stout stayer at the trip with his victory at Ascot last time out and he rates the percentage call in a race where obvious standout candidates are thin on the ground.

Smooth victories at Exeter on his first two outings over hurdles, connections clearly wanted to find out whether the son of Getaway had what it takes for something more substantial by taking on a higher standard of opponent at the Berkshire venue last time out and, have travelled supremely well throughout, he readily pulled clear of his rivals. Showing a nice turn of foot in the testing conditions, Philip Hobbs’ inmate left the distinct impression he’s a Grade 1 performer in waiting and with his preparations having gone about as smoothly as any horse in the line-up, the five-year-old looks booked for the frame at the very least.

The Irish have decent record in this 2m5f handicap in recent times and both ALFA MIX (best price 10-1) and FRANCO DE PORT (best price 10-1) have the profiles which strongly suggest they could add to the visitors’ role of honour.

The former has been another massive improver from the Gavin Cromwell stable of late and his latest two performances highlight his steady climb up the ranks. A winner of a hugely-competitive handicap at Navan two starts ago, he narrowly failed to repeat the dose on his return visit a month later, however, he still ran to a level that indicated he’s very much going the right way. Travelling as well as anything throughout at the Co Meath venue, the son of Fair Mix just got caught out by Kilfenora, who obtained first run after jumping the second last, but at the same time, it was encouraging to see the five-year-old keep on strongly up the hill after the last and, with the pair pulling well clear of Court Maid, (won since) the form looks very strong. A scopey sort whose best days are all ahead of him, it’s significant that top owner JP McManus has subsequently acquired the services of Alfa Mix after that solid effort 53 days ago and with a big-field, strong-run environment likely to bring about even further improvement, a positive display in very much in the offing.

The latter has no experience of races of this nature, but with most winners of this race in recent times having a serious class edge, the fact that he comes from a Graded race environment augurs well for his chance. Found to be lame after a poor run at Limerick over the Christmas period, Willie Mullins’ gelding bounced back to something like his best in a Grade 3 at Naas last time out and with the time figure suggesting the race at the Co Meath track is an extremely reliable piece of form, he clearly has the running in his legs to cope with a strongly-run examination.

Gordon Elliott has plundered this prize twice in the last seven years and he looks to have a strong hand this season in the shape of Aramax and TRONADOR (best price 9-1). For all the former has very persuasive claims following an impressive success at Navan last time out, the latter should in no way be underestimated and his profile screams out as one who’s had his whole season geared around this race. A massive eye-catcher in a big-field maiden at Leopardstown on his debut over hurdles, the son of Lope De Vega was heavily-supported to justify the impression he created at the Dublin venue and, after travelling well throughout, he made light work of his ten opponents. Up against older horses last time out at Navan, the chestnut gelding just got caught out as the tempo increased on the approach to two out, but it was encouraging to see him run hard all the way up the hill to line and that’s very much been the feature of his game in all his three starts. A likeable type with an attitude to match his ability, it’s interesting that connections reach for the blinkers for the first time over hurdles in a bid to prevent him from hitting a flat spot and providing that turns out to be the case, he has bright prospect of causing some damage off a mark of 129.

Away from the tried-and-trusted sources, PALLADIUM (best price 11-1) also strikes as one who should be well-suited by the rigours of this race and having proven himself very much home on testing conditions at Sandown on his last two starts, he has to come into the equation.

Any horse that can beat a useful older good five-year-old in the shape of Flic Ou Voyou in the manner he did at the Esher venue last time out has to marked down as a seriously good juvenile and with his prominent run style seen as a positive based on how the racing panned out here yesterday, Nicky Henderson’s gelding makes quite a bit of appeal.

Appreciate It has been all the rage since winning at Leopardstown and while there are grounds to suggest he will go a long way to providing Willie Mullins another winner in this contest, he’s also been priced up accordingly. Whether he’s a genuine 2-1 poke only time will tell, but from a pure value point of view, there are several who make a good deal more appeal including the likes of PANIC ATTACK (best price 12-1) and JULIES STOWAWAY (best price 50-1).

The former was well-touted before her debut at Market Rasen back in January and after travelling well throughout, she found a smart turn of foot to readily pull clear of her opponents - several of whom had already displayed a fair level of form. Recently acquired in the aftermath by connections who’ve won this race before with Moon Racer, it’s reasonable to suggest she wouldn’t have gone backwards since joining the in-form Pipe squad and although she lacks the knowhow of many of her older counterparts, she looks to have the sort of engine that compensates for her inexperience.

The latter was always likely to be chalked up a big price based on his small stable syndrome, but at no point should he be underestimated. Runner-up on his first two starts in bumpers, Mags Mullins’ six-year-old faced another potentially troublesome opponent in the shape of the very well-backed Ballyadam (sent off 1-3) at Navan on his latest start, but putting his experience to good use, he showed enough quality and knowhow to withstand Gordon Elliot’s so-called superstar. Moreover, in doing so the son of Stowaway posted a particularly eye-popping speed figure for a bumper and with those numbers not a million miles away from championship level, his odds of 40-1 look way off the mark.