Andy Holding's Tuesday Racing Tips

Storm Francis has certainly left its mark up and down the length and breadth of the country and that means conditions at the North Wales venue are going to be very different to what was described yesterday. As such, there are going to be quite a few non-runners and even many of those who do take their chance are unlikely to be totally at home on the soft ground, but one who shouldn’t have too many issues on that score is GARO DE JUILLEY (best price 11-2). 

Although not an out-and-out mudlark, Sophie Leech’s gelding has numerous lines of form on testing ground to suggest he’s more than capable of slogging his way through tough conditions and when you look deeper into some of his best performances, today’s opposition will seem stark in comparison. Good enough to finish within hailing distance of Imperial Aura and Simply The Betts in one of the best novice chases run prior to the Cheltenham Festival last season, the son of Ungaro also faced and competed quite well against the likes of Reserved Tank, Mister Fisher, Midnight Shadow and Slate House – all big names in the chasing division. Back over hurdles for his last three encounters, the eight-year-old was still bang in contention at the second last in a valuable handicap at Ascot back in February and even though he got beaten a fair way at Auteuil last time out, he was up against some of the very best Graded performers France has to offer. At least that fair effort 52 days ago means that fitness shouldn’t be an issue here this afternoon and with his handler having sent out two winners from her last five runners, hope is high he can provide his Gloucestershire trainer with more cheer racing back in Class 3 company for the first time in two years.

FUGACIOUS (NAP) (best price 15-8) narrowly failed to land a gamble at Killarney last time out, but at least his defeat strongly suggested connections have him in the right zone at present and today represents a decent chance for him to gain compensation.

Noted going well behind the pace turning for home, the son of Fast Company was produced with what looked to be a winning challenge inside the final furlong but much to the anguish of his supporters, he couldn’t quite get on terms with Dragon Of Malta who obtained first run. Prior to that agonising defeat, John Feane’s gelding had been noted doing some good late work from the back of the field on the round track at today’s course and that performance backed up his previous effort when undone by a low draw over the straight seven-furlongs. Back at the scene of that commendable display, the four-year-old gelding is much better placed right in the middle of the pack, and providing the blinkers elicit a little extra improvement in his concentration levels, he should be going very close to finally shedding the maiden tag.

THE NAVIGATOR (best price 9-2) impressed with the way he totally dismantled the opposition over today’s C&D last time out and there’s no reason to desert Dianne Sayer’s gelding on his return visit to the Yorkshire venue. 

Looking as though he required further based on his two previous runs over 1m4f, the son of Mastercraftsman was given the chance to put that theory to the test here 21 days ago and after travelling comfortably all the way, he then found the necessary change of gear to readily move away from his rivals in the latter stages. Posting a big speed figure for the third time in succession, the five-year-old grey is clearly in the form of his life and even though there’s a couple of respected runners in the line-up in the shape of Stag Horn and Snookered, the top weight is still fancied to have their measure.

BERLUSCONI (best price 16-1) has shaped with a decent amount of promise in each of his three starts so far to date and now trying handicapping for the first time, John McConnell’s gelding might be worth crack at a big price to see what he can do against more realistic opposition. 

A big eye-catcher at Tipperary on debut when Billie Lee was at pains to give his mount the kindest introduction as possible, the son of French Navy paid for trying to chase the hugely-talented Aztec Parade in the latter stages on his next start at Leopardstown. Once again, pitched into a useful maiden at the Galway festival last time out, the three-year-old gelding acquitted himself really well by keeping on nicely to finish a not-knocked-about sixth and with today’s extra distance likely to give him a chance to get into a more comfortable rhythm, it would come as no surprise if he were to outrun his morning odds.