Andy Holding's Tuesday Racing Tips

LOCH GARMAN ARIS (NAP) (best price 7-4) posted a very smart set of figures for the grade when landing a nice touch for connections here last time out and providing he’s in a similar frame of mind on his return to the Welsh venue, the locally-trained 11-year-old can strike again. 

Like many of Gary Hamer’s horses, the son of Jammaal seemingly comes alive at his local track and that trait was never more noticeable with his victory here 10 days ago. In what turned out to be an extremely strong gallop given the testing conditions, the veteran always travelled best and after picking up the running on the gallop in between three out and the second last, he stayed on powerfully all the way to the line to record a cosy success. Moreover, his winning time was not only the fastest on the card, his final circuit time was six seconds quicker than the 2m4f handicap chase won by 113-rated Corri Lindo, so based on those findings, just a 5lb rise in the ratings to 88 shouldn’t be enough to prevent him from winning again. 

SIR RUMI (best price 4-1) found the expected improvement from his debut to score at the second time of asking at Nottingham last time out and Richard Hannon’s colt is fancied to continue his progression and provide short-priced favourite Alfaadhel with plenty to think about.

An eye-catching fourth in the Wood Ditton at Newmarket a month ago, the Gleneagles colt went to the Midland venue with plenty of confidence attached and although he made his supporters sweat in gaining the verdict, his performance looks better given the post-race facts. A little keen in the early stages despite the race being generously run from the start, the fact he found plenty for pressure considering how much energy he expended in the first half a mile is testimony to his ability and the winning time also suggested the contest was well above-average. Indeed, the runner-up, King Of Clubs, has subsequently gone on to boost the form and is being talked about in terms of Royal Ascot glory and it wouldn’t come as the biggest surprise in the world if this improving three-year-old were to book his ticket for that gig himself providing he settles a little better and comes through today’s test with flying colours.

POPONG (best price 4-1) has been plying her trade at a fairly high level in the last two seasons and following an excellent effort on her first attempt over three miles in a red-hot handicap at the Punchestown Festival, Henry De Bromhead’s mare has the class to take high rank in this competitive affair. 
Not good enough for subsequent Grade 1 winner Colreevy at Punchestown back in November, the daughter of Subtle Power has been lightly raced since and following a last fence tumble when still in contention at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting, we had to wait four months to see her again. Sent off a well-backed 4-1 favourite to get the better of a 20-strong field, the seven-year-old made a brave fist in her bid to justify her position in the market and based on her strong surge on the run-in, she may have prevailed if she’d started her run a little earlier. However, her performance at the Co Kildare venue at least proved she stays that sort of trip in a strongly-run environment and with her arriving here fresher than most, she’s expected to go close to adding to the long list of big prizes for the trainer/jockey combination this year.