Andy Holding's Tuesday Racing Tips

Some really nice prospects face the starter for this above-average novices’ hurdle, none more so than Bill Baxter and Nells Son, but despite their reputations, FAME VALLEY (best price 11-1) rates a similarly intriguing contender having shaped well over today’s course on his last two starts and at the morning odds, he rates the percentage each-way call.

Promising despite being beaten a fair way by the potentially top-class High Stakes in a bumper at Wexford on his final Irish start for old connections, Ian Duncan’s gelding ran a pleasing race on his UK debut in a useful novices’ hurdle over today’s course back in October. Using that outing as a platform from which to build, the son of Fame And Glory shaped even better on his next expedition a month later when keeping on nicely from the rear to finish within hailing distance of the highly-regarded Lebowski over the same C&D. By no means knocked about 22 days ago, it would be interesting to know what connections have in mind for this lightly-raced six-year-old from here on in, but providing he’s allowed to run on his merits (third run for a handicap mark), he certainly has the capabilities to more than hold his own in a race of this nature over a trip that should suit.

CANCAN (NAP) (best price 11-4) landed some nice bets when getting off the mark at the eighth time of asking over C&D last time out and with the numbers from that novice hurdle 29 days ago stacking up well in the context of today’s race, Nick Alexander’s mare is strongly fancied to follow up back in handicap company.

Heading into that useful-looking mares’ only event at the Scottish venue rated 100, the daughter of Al Namix faced several who were held in high regard by their respective connections, but as it turned out, the market proved to be the best guide to the eventual outcome. Noted travelling well in behind the decent pace set by the odds-on favourite, Ramble On, the five-year-old eased to the front at the second last and from that point she found enough off the bridle to fend off her main market rival. Recording a useful overall time figure, it’s also worth pointing out she ran the quickest sectionals in the final mile on the hurdle track that day, which included the handicap over the same C&D won by one of today’s main rivals, Spark Of Madness, so to have come out of that contest only 6lb higher in the ratings, means she’s still eligible to compete in 0-105 class 5 company even though the numbers suggest she should be a grade or two higher. Although she’s raced over further and at stiffer tracks, she clearly doesn’t lack the pace for today’s sharp two miles and with the conditions here this afternoon also not seen as any sort of negative, it all adds up for this progressive mare to make her presence felt.