Andy Holding's Tuesday Racing Tips

RUN TO MILAN (best price 8-1) was ultimately readily outpointed in the latter stages of the Mandarin Handicap Chase at Newbury last time out, but as that race at the Berkshire venue was quite some heat if the figures are to be believed, he’s worth more than a second look in this significantly weaker affair at a track where his form figures read 214313.

An easy winner of a competitive novices’ handicap on his final start last season, his campaign began over the same C&D 238 days later and but for a bad mistake when challenging at the last, he may have continued where he left off. Slightly outclassed by subsequent Welsh National winner Iwilldoit in a Class 2 event at Chepstow on his next outing, the son of Milan was in deep again later in the month when taking on the likes of improving novices’ Saint Palais and Gericault Roque. Although once again coming up a bit short in the final reckoning, Victor Dartnell’s gelding had gone well until fading from the second last and when you consider the numbers from that quality heat at the Berkshire track where right on par with two-mile contest on the same card in terms of final circuit sectionals, it puts into context the sort of examination he was put under. Back into much calmer waters here this afternoon where the pace should be more sedate, the 10-year-old should have little trouble holding his own over a track and ground where he’s been successful before.

PEEJAYBEE (best price 11-4) proved no match for the smart Balco Coastal at Huntingdon, but at the same time he was far from disgraced, and a repeat of something in a similar ball park should be good enough to see Richard Spencer’s gelding go close to making a successful handicap debut.

A winner of a soft-ground bumper at Market Rasen last season, the son of Ballingarry returned to the Lincolnshire venue to tackle hurdles for the first time, and despite having to overcome a 263-day absence, he maintained his unbeaten record at the track with a stylish success. Up against one of Nicky Henderson’s nicer young novices when last seen, the six-year-old couldn’t quite match the speed of the winner in the latter stages, but considering he was set a pretty stiff task from where he was halfway down the back straight, to only get beaten eight lengths wasn’t a bad return. Additionally, the form from the race in question at the Cambridgeshire track has worked out well since with the fifth winning and runner-up finishing placed since, so based on the small samples of his offerings so far to date, an opening mark of 120 looks a reasonable starting point for this lightly-raced type.

BEAT THE BREEZE (best price 5-2) has been progressing nicely since teaming up with Alice Haynes and following another solid effort in a decent little heat at Lingfield last Friday, a repeat of his previous C&D could be a distinct possibility.

Stepped back up to 1m6f on his first visit to Newark-On-Trent venue, he made an immediate impact with a strong staying performance and although he’s failed in his bid to back up that victory in two subsequent starts, his efforts in defeat suggest he’s still on the right track. Running right up to his best on the figures when a keeping-on third to the in-form Smith at Lingfield four days ago, the five-year-old grey looks destined to be right in the thick of the action once again.