Tuesday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

FAROUK DE CHENEAU (best price 11/4) split a couple of bang-in-form novices on his second start over fences at Southwell last time out and with today’s contest appearing to be nowhere near as tough on paper as it was at the Midland venue, Nicky Henderson’s gelding can finally make the breakthrough in this discipline.

Runner-up to the useful Aviewtosea at Bangor on his chase debut, the son of Day Flight had the subsequent dual winner Shetland Bus well beaten off in behind that day, and even though he couldn’t quite get the job done on his second start a month later, time has told us he faced an impossible task trying to live with the rapidly-improving Kinondo Kweta, who has also gone on to score twice since.

Very much seen as a good ground horse, connections will no doubt be delight that most of the rain that fell over the weekend (amazingly) missed today’s Welsh track, and with this assignment seen as probably his last chance for a while to strike before the weather turns against him, the seven-year-old can sign off in the best possible fashion before returning to action in the Spring.

KEEP RUNNING (best price 3/1) must have a pretty decent engine to be able to overcome the habit he had of jumping out to his right over today’s C&D last time out, so even though he faces no easy task on his return to the Welsh venue, he may have the necessary ability to repeat the dose.

Picked up by current connections after bombing out in a Grade 3 hurdle in France back in November (raced too keenly), Harry Whittington’s inmate was strongly fancied to make a winning UK debut at the Welsh venue a month ago and despite constantly given away valuable ground to his main market rival, Stroll On By, at several of his hurdles, he still managed to come out on top in pretty convincing fashion.

Set to go to Kempton a week last Sunday to contest a listed prize, unfortunately for connections the rain didn’t arrive in sufficient quantities that would have allowed him to take part, so with very few other options around at present – particularly going right-handed - their hand has been forced to some degree to come back to the scene of his latest success.

Obviously, with the likes of Sergeant Wilson and several other promising types in today’s line-up, he can’t afford to be giving away huge amounts of ground away at his obstacles again, but on the flip side, he does have valuable course knowledge and fitness on his side and those two factors may be enough to swing things in his favour on ground that will also be heavily in his favour.