Andy Holding's Tuesday Racing Tips

MUY BIEN (best price 11-4) hinted there may be better times ahead with his improved effort here last time and having been handed what appears to be a workable mark on handicap debut, Harry Fry’s gelding should hopefully be capable of making an impact at this sort of level. 

Sent off big prices in two useful novice hurdles early this season, the son of Cloudings rather lived up to his market expectations, but even though he was equally unconsidered on his most recent start, the final outcome was totally different. Although still beaten a fair way, he did some really pleasing work in the final half a mile of a well-run affair and that performance went some way to suggest he’s really getting his act together since being fitted with a hood. Whether he’s quite ready for a race of today’s nature remains to be seen, but at least he’s one of the few in the field still capable of plenty of improvement so on that basis, he’s worth a small interest to see if he can piece it all together. 

GALLOPADE (best price 2-1) won with any amount in hand on his debut at Fakenham back in November and with the greens shoots of recovery beginning to slowly develop for his handler in recent weeks, Warren Greatrex’s gelding can continue his progression. 

A little keen early on at the Norfolk track, the son of Schiaparelli could have easily burnt himself out come the business end of the race, but totally the opposite happened as he galloped right away from his toiling rivals in the final half a mile. Not fully extended at the line, the six-year-old intimated he still had plenty of running left in the tank and with his exertions given plenty of time recovery by his patient trainer, today’s contest has to go down as a decent opportunity for this promising individual. 

SOARING STAR (best price 2-1) has been up against some of the best middle-distance performers this track has had to offer since being re-laid and now seemingly taking on the weakest-looking opposition for some time, Philip Kirby’s gelding can finally gain his due rewards for his consistency. 

Third behind the useful pair Onesmoothoperator and Cherokee dance on his first outing at the Midland venue, the five-year-old then had the misfortune to bump into another track specialist in the shape of Charlie Arthur. Next he was up against three-time C&D winner Carausias a month ago and despite looking likely to prevail turning for home, he just got worried out of the argument close home. However, with the pair well clear and the time figure very good, it’s fair to come to the conclusion he produced something close to his personal best and with most of his rivals having plied their trades in either Class 5 or 6 company in recent times, his edge in quality he brings to the party will hopefully come to fruition. 

Love Your Work ran out an easy winner here last week, but it’s worth noting he did rather get gifted an easy time of things from the front, so with that in mind, there looks to be better value to be had with similar course specialists CLIFFCAKE (best price 3-1) and CUSTARD THE DRAGON (best price 5-1). 
The two selections clashed here back in December, with the former just coming out on top, but there wasn’t a good deal to choose between the pair and there probably won’t be today either. If anything, the latter came out of the race with the most credit having being drawn out in the cheap seats in stall 12 and he went on to back up that view here last time with a deserved victory. Despite their solid form lines and speed figures recently, they are still eligible for class 5 company and because it’s almost impossible to split the pair given their list of positives, the safest approach is to play them both against the field at their respective morning odds.