Andy Holding's Tuesday Racing Tips

MYSTIC DREAMER (best price 7-2) produced a big career high with her victory at Exeter last time out and with conditions to suit, Nick Gifford’s mare looks set to strike in rich for the second time in succession.

Too keen for her own good over a trip that also stretched her stamina first time out this season, the daughter of San Fronteries settled much better for today’s pilot at the West Country venue last time out and, as a result, she was able to see her race out in a much more purposeful fashion. The fact that she was also too strong for course specialist Trans Express – who never gives up her advantage lightly – says plenty about her effort 37 days ago, and with Tabitha Worsley once again in the plate, the combination looks set for another decent spin.

GOWEL ROAD (best price 7-2) made the very useful Bear Ghylls pull out all the stop on his hurdling debut at Ffos Las a month ago and with that form as good as anything on offer here this afternoon, he has every chance of going one place better in this similar contest.

A little novicey at certain points during the two-mile journey at the Welsh track, those errors didn’t stop the son of Flemensfirth seeing the trip out all the way to the line and if it wasn’t for the fact the winner is above-average and had the benefit of experience of a run over hurdles, he might have landed the prize at the first time of asking, That said, the pair did pull well clear of the rest – which is a good sign – and with the time figure pretty good given the conditions, the four-year-old can make his mark again second time around.

Some really progressive young chasers on show in what looks to be an above-average novices’ handicap and despite the obvious claims of Demachine, SEVERANO (best price 7-2) can provide his supporters with a decent five minutes of entertainment.

A useful 135-rated hurdler, Oliver Sherwood’s inmate always looked like he would make a better chaser and with two straight wins since switching disciplines, he’s certainly lived up to that billing. Tenacious in victory over subsequent winner Mahlervous at Sandown on his debut, the son of Shantou was far more impressive on his latest outing at Exeter both visually and on the clock. Indeed, so good was he at the West Country track, he managed to eclipse the Class 2 chase won by Bold Plan to the tune of nine seconds and with the potential of even more to come, the seven-year-old should put up a bold display at a course where his stats read 412.

The ratings suggest MIDNIGHTREFERENDUM (best price 17-2) has plenty to find up against several useful sorts in this listed mares chase but she deserves a little bit more respect than her position in the market indicates having already proven herself at this level last time out at Warwick.

Impressive on her first start over fences at Fontwell both visually and on the clock, Alan King’s mare unfortunately tipped up on her next outing at Huntingdon, so it was good to see her suffer no ill effects from that tumble at the Midland venue last time out. Jumping well throughout, she looked in good shape to take the prize leaving the back straight only to find the front-running Zambella just too strong in the latter stages. That said, she stayed on strongly all the way to the line and with today’s more galloping track likely to see her in an even better light, it would be a surprise if she didn’t punch significantly above her weight.

DEFI SACRE (best price 10-3) has been competing at a fairly high level so far this season and in the hope he finds today’s opponents a little more palatable, Richard Hobson’s gelding is strongly fancied to get back on track.

Unseating his rider when still in with a chance in a hot contest at Newbury a month ago, the son of Network has bookended that tumble with two fine placed efforts at Grade 1 tracks and his latest display at Doncaster last time out, albeit not quite what connections would have wanted, still comes out well on the figures ion context of today’s assignment. Back on ground that saw him twice successful last season and with cheekpieces on again, there’s no obvious reason why the seven-year-old shouldn’t go well at this level.