Andy Holding's Tuesday Racing Tips

Connections of PERCY STREET (best price 7-2) cited they could offer no explanation for the gelding’s poor show at Bangor last time out, but based on all previous evidence, he was always likely to struggle on testing ground and he’s afforded another chance back on a better surface around a track that has served him well in the past.

Prior to his predictable demise at the Welsh venue, David Pipe’s gelding had been in decent form, mainly on a decent terrain around the West Country track and even though he has looked a slightly reluctant hero on occasions, it’s also fair to say he’s been up against opponents far removed from the ones he tackles today. Doubly Clever, for instance ran an amazing circuit time to beat him three starts ago and there was certainly no disgrace to fill out the same position behind Fontwell specialist Chapmanshype on his penultimate outing. Whichever way you strip it down, the son of Sir Percy looks a backer for the frame at the very least and he should be played accordingly.

CONRON (best price 8-1) seems to have been around longer than his six years suggest but during that time, he’s run against some pretty useful opponents, and with most of his best form reserved for today’s venue, Jessica Harington’s gelding might just be capable of shrugging aside top weight.

A winner of a maiden hurdle on his first visit to the Co Kildare venue back in 2018, the son of Mastercraftsman almost repeated the dose a year later when he contested the Adare Manor Opportunity Series Final, but he just got run out of the argument by the well-treated UK raider Musical Slave. Back in the winner’s circle on his latest outing here last October, there’s something that clearly ignites the flame for this six-year-old when he arrives at the home of Irish National Hunt racing and following a tremendous effort at the Galway Festival recently when he finished a creditable runner-up to the improving Walking On Glass on the Flat, he should be just about spot on to add to his impressive tracks stats of 121.

It’s been a while since we’ve seen DANCE JUPITER (best price 4-1) on a racecourse, but he left such a lasting memory with his victory over the subsequent massive improver Patrick Sarsfield, that hopefully his return to action will be worth the wait.

Very slow away and never a factor on his debut in a maiden at Killarney a year ago, the son of Kingsbarns went to Cork two months later without too much in the way of expectation, but he proved to be a totally different horse to the one we’d seen at the Co Kerry venue. Racing in mid-division through the first part of the race, the four-year-old still had a bit to do as the field turned for home, but with a devastating turn of foot in the final two furlongs, he came from some way off the pace to mow down the heavily-backed Joseph O’Brien-trained runner with ease. Clocking a fair time into the bargain, the same connections as the vanquished favourite clearly liked what they witnessed as they dug deep into their pockets to acquire Dance Jupiter and with one of their stable stars going on to succeed at Group level so far this term and hold a rating of 114, it would be a surprise if this potentially useful sort doesn’t take advantage of a handicap mark 25lb lower than his roommate at some stage during the remainder of the campaign.

PRINCESS ZOE (NAP) (best price 3-1) has been excellently handled by Tony Mullins since switching from her German base and even though she faces her toughest task so far to date up against several fillies already proven at Group level, her previous experience around today’s unique venue will hopefully count for plenty and help her bridge the gap from handicapper to pattern level.

Looking back, one of the mysteries of the season was how the daughter of Jukebox Jury managed to get beat off a mark of 64 on her first outing for new connections, because since then, she has pretty much destroyed everything in her path. An easy win at the Curragh preceded a notable victory in the big amateur riders’ contest at the Festival here back in July and she duly followed up by completing the hat trick in another premier handicap four days later. On each occasion, the feature of her successes has been the turn of foot she’s found when required at the business end and with soft ground very much in her favour on her return to the slopes of Ballybrit, the five-year-old grey, it will take a good one to stop her progressing even further.