Andy Holding's Tuesday Racing Tips

FANTASTICAS (best price 5-2) has always had the make and shape of a chaser and hailing from a stable that are producing winners at a fairly decent rate at present (26%), Nigel Twiston-Davies’ gelding can make a successful debut in his new discipline.

A consistent if sometimes a frustrating character with five runner-up spots next to his name, the son of Davidoff’s only career win came via a decent novices’ hurdle at Fontwell back in February. Easily his best performance, however, came in defeat when he chased home the smart Threeunderthrufive in a Class 2 contest at Musselburgh the time before and considering his conqueror is now rated in the 150’s over fences, it just puts into context what he was up against that day. Without suggesting for one minute the six-year-old will prove as good as Paul Nicholls’ gelding has already over fences, at the same time it would come as a surprise if he weren’t to make an impact in this sphere and with today’s track and fences nicely spaced out for him to get into some sort of decent rhythm, hopefully a clear round of jumping should see this potentially useful type go close off his opening mark.

ANIMORE (NAP) (best price 13-8) was a little more suspect with her technique than she was on her debut over fences here last time out, but with the cheekpieces fitted for the first time in order help her concentrate a bit more in that department, Iain Jardine’s mare rates a solid choice to get back on track.

A dual winner over hurdles, the daughter of Sulamani made an inauspicious start to her career over fences when falling at the third over today’s C&D but she finally got her act together at Hexham a year further down the line when making all the running to score in a fast time. Really good at the Borders venue a month ago when her sound technique at pace enabled her to keep her opponents at bay, the eight-year-old attempted to repeat the dose in a better race here last time out but following a bad mistake at the second, she never looked at ease as she’d done two weeks earlier. That said, her performance still was by no means a poor one, finishing a creditable runner-up to the useful 125-rated Dorking Boy, and with the distinct likelihood of her obtaining an uncontested lead due to her being the only genuine front runner in the line-up, hopefully she will get into a better early rhythm this time around and dominate throughout.

It’s probably a fair statement to say OUTBACK FLYER (best price 7-2) was a bit of an unlucky loser at Fairyhouse last week and with presumably all well with Peter Fahey’s mare after her untimely tumble – hence why she’s out again so quickly – she’s fancied to make amends.

Not quite up to the standard required for a listed bumper at Gowran on her first run after a 218-day break a month ago, the daughter of Jet Away was fitted with the hood for the first time on her debut over hurdles at Galway next time out. Settling much better at Ballybrit, she was able to finish off her race with much more zest and following that better effort, she was well supported confirm the impression she created that day in a similar contest two weeks later. Held up towards the rear early at the Co Meath venue, the five-year-old made steady headway to race on the coat tails of the leaders turning for home, but it was at that point where she clipped heels of a fading rival and ended up taking a nasty tumble. Given how well she was going at the time, it’s safe to say she would have played a large part in the eventual outcome and now reverting back to a discipline where her natural ability should come to the fore, a positive result looks the most likely outcome.