Boxing Day Racing Tips from Andy Holding

SOUNDS RUSSIAN (best price 6/1) just came up a little short on his first at Graded level at Aintree last time out, but he did more than enough to suggest he remains on the upgrade and now back at a level he should be more competitive, Ruth Jefferson’s gelding makes plenty of appeal at the morning odds.

An impressive winner of a hot handicap at Kelso on his first outing for 203 days, it was easy to see why connections of the son of Sholokhov would want to chance their arm against the likes of Noble Yeats, Ahoy Senor and Dashel Drasher at the Merseyside track and by and large, you’d have to say their decision was totally justified.

Outpaced before running on nicely in the latter stages, the seven-year-old left the impression he would either require a stiffer track or further in future and with one of those necessities coming to fruition here this afternoon, anything other than a bold show would have to go down as a huge disappointment.

TEDDY BLUE (NAP) (best price 7/4) can be his own worst enemy with his propensity to race a little keenly in the early stages, but there’s no denying he has tons of ability when piecing everything together and a chance is taken he’s on one of his more amenable days.

Way too headstrong on his first start for 202 days at Kempton on his seasonal bow, Gary Moore’s gelding was still full of beans despite that initial run out of his system over today’s C&D a month later, but on this occasion, his class in a weak race proved the decisive factor.

Upped significantly in grade at Newbury last time out, the son of Sea The Moon seemed much more at home in a strongly run race and his end product of finishing third to the rapidly-improving First Street has to go down as a career high on the figures. Amazingly dropped to 128 despite that excellent performance, he now gets a chance to run in a 0-130 and, with his ability to handle both trip and track in equal measures, only something untoward happening can prevent him from beating today’s rivals.

WHO’S HOUDINI (best price 10/1) lacks the experience for a race of this nature, but his two performances over fences give out sufficient hope that he can brush aside that slight negative and get off the mark at the ninth time of asking.

A creditable third on his chase debut at Gowran, Shark Hanlon’s inmate shaped better than the bare result suggested in a deep race at Tramore last time and the numbers are as such that he deserves more respect than his position in the market affords him.

Even though he could only manage fourth behind the useful Indie Belle, his final circuit time still worked out better to the tune of 6.6 seconds than today’s favourite Walking The Walk, so based on those findings, double figure quotes seem way out of line.

EDE’IFFS ELTON (best price 7/2) has shaped with plenty of encouragement on his last two starts and now returning to a track where his form figures over fences read 1211, Robert Walford’s gelding rates a confident choice to maintain the status quo.

Suffering his first defeat at the West Country venue at this meeting last year, the son of Geordieland soon regained the winning thread when making amends in spectacular fashion on his return visit two starts later.

Unlucky on his second outing of the season when tipping up two out at Hereford, the eight-year-old shaped really well considering the trip was on the short side at Exeter last time out and even though there’s a small fear lightening could strike twice over today’s 2m4f journey, at least the fact he’s racing over his happy hunting ground readdresses the balance.

The sight of a line of seconds next to the name of LIGHT EM UP NIGEL (best price 11/2) could be seen as a little disconcerting but, if taking a more positive stance, Nicky Martin’s gelding is likely to run his race more than most based on those figures and it’s for that reason why he gains a confident vote from an each-way perspective.

No match for Nemean Lion in a hot contest at Hereford two starts ago, the son of Leading Light was a warm order to take advantage of a seemingly lenient mark on his first attempt in handicap company at Lingfield last time and although he failed in his bid to justify 5/2 favouritism, it’s hard to see what he did wrong.

The way he travelled through the race before being outpointed by the revitalised Happy Company suggested it’s surely only a matter of time before all the pieces fall in the right place and with cheekpieces on for the first time a likely source of motivation, the six-year-old can have his day in the sun.

A quality renewal of this mid-season Grade 1 chase and it’s one ELDORADO ALLEN (best price 25/1) can prove he’s not the forlorn hope his morning odds suggest.

Slightly flattered to finish as close to Bravemansgame as he did on his seasonal bow in the Charlie Hall, Colin Tizzard’s gelding may not have bettered his finishing position behind Protektorat in the Betfair Chase at Haydock last time out, but the speed figures tell a different story.

 In what turned out to be an extremely strongly run affair, the son of Khalkevi kept on well in the latter stages to prove he stays a well-run three miles on soft ground very well and with the combination of his stamina and tactical speed over shorter trips seen as good traits for today’s test, the likeable grey can easily outrun his odds.

LEISSIERES EXPRESS (best price 9/1) shaped with a good deal of encouragement in a useful maiden hurdle at Chepstow when last seen and with the likelihood of more to come now handicapping, Jeremy Scott’s gelding rates the most intriguing runner in today’s line-up.

It was difficult to judge the son of Telescope on his first start of the season as he bled from the nose, but his latest effort gave us a better insight into where his capabilities may lie. Held up towards the rear at the Welsh venue, the five-year-old caught the eye in the way he made smooth headway through the field to race on the heels of the leaders turning for home and even though that huge effort would have taken plenty of energy out of his legs, he still had the quality to keep on well to finish a never-nearer fourth.

Quite clearly better than the bare result suggests from that race 38 days ago, he’s been handed a mark that should prove very workable at this sort of level and providing he receives a more positive ride, he has the ability to make his presence felt.

There’s a strong possibility Brentford Hope will prove a good deal better than his opening mark, but the same can be said for CHAPEL GREEN (best price 17/2) and at the morning prices, Lucinda Russell’s gelding makes far more appeal as an each-way alternative.

Shaping as though in need of the experience on his first outing over hurdles at Ayr back in October, the son of Dylan Thomas showed a good deal more professionalism on his next outing at Kelso and that victory both visually and on the clock strongly suggest he remains on an upward trajectory.

Clearly not short of pace despite him being a long-term chase prospect, he appeals as the one most likely to take advantage of the favourite not seeing out the trip again.