Tuesday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

JODY TED (NAP) (best price 13/8) created a favourable impression both visually and on the clock at Clonmel last time out and in a race that looks far easier on paper, Eoin Griffin’s gelding is fully expected to dish out a similar beating over a track he’s enjoyed success in the past.

Going well when unluckily unseating his rider on chasing debut at Cork, the son of Dylan Thomas was rather surprisingly allowed to go off at 14-1 for his latest adventure at the Powerstown Park venue and as it turned out, that starting price proved way off the mark.

Noted travelled well throughout, the six-year-old seemed to be in full control when his main market rival Henn See capsized two out and the way he stayed on in the latter stages certainly backed up that view. Posting a big overall time, the final circuit sectionals also revealed he was trapping along at a fair rate of knots and with the fourth horse home, The Folkes Tiara, boosting the form with an excellent effort in a competitive handicap at Leopardstown yesterday, confidence is high this improving sort can follow suit.

RED ROOKIE (best price 11/2) hasn’t been seen out since a last fence casualty in the Arkle Chase, but providing all is well in the world of Emma Lavelle’s inmate, he has a decent chance of making his seasonal bow a winning one.

Lightly-raced under both disciplines, the son of Black Sam Bellamy always had the makings of being a better chaser than hurdler and even though we only have a small sample size to base that opinion, there’s enough evidence to suggest that theory will ring true. Runner-up in a hot novices’ handicap over today’s course on his first start over fence, the seven-year-old only had to wait two starts to make amends when landing a similar event at Herford in some style.

Pitched into the deep end at the Cheltenham festival rather than tackling one of the handicaps, connections’ decision to start the season off down the latter route appears to be a sensible one and with today’s extra yardage seen as a positive approach, this unexposed chaser can begin the campaign in similar fashion.

LETSBECLEARABOUTIT (best price 5/1) was by no means disgraced on his first attempt at Graded level at Cork last time out and he’s worth another chance to prove that this is where he belongs.

A high-class bumper performer, good enough to chase home Kilcruit in a Grade 2 contest at Fairyhouse just short of two years ago, the son of Flemensfirth has spent the last few months making up for lost time with two encouraging runs over hurdle.

Firstly, outpointed by the useful American Mike on his debut at Down Royal, Gavin Cromwell’s gelding was then asked to contest a decent-looking Grade next time and although things didn’t work out quite as connections would have liked, his display was by no means not without promise for the future. Having sat in behind the good pace set by Cool Survivor, the seven-year-old became outpaced as the tempo reached a crescendo on the approach to three out, but from that point onwards, it was good to see him rally well to the cause and see his race out in pretty tenacious fashion.

On the evidence of that excellent effort 16 days ago, he clearly gets the three-mile trip well and with today’s conditions pretty similar to what he faced at the mallow venue, another positive outcome looks on the cards.

A typically wide open renewal of this sought-after prize and both AIN’T THAT A SHAME (best price 7/1) and GALLANT JOHN JOE (best price 16/1) appeal as two that can show off their qualities to the full.

The former arrives here with arguably one of the best pieces of form next to his name courtesy of his excellent second to the subsequent Troytown winner The Big Dog at Limerick back in November, and if it wasn’t for a last fence blunder that day, we might be looking at him in an even different light.

The way he travelled and jumped before getting in too close to the final fence suggested he’s a well handicapped horse and having gone well in a quality novice event behind the mighty Galopin Des Champs on his only visit to today’s course, henry De Bromhead’s gelding ticks that particular box too.

The latter has had his issues in recent times but since he re-joined the fray a year ago, he’s been pretty reliable at a decent level. Not quite good enough for Graded company on several occasions, the son of Presenting is best judged on his fine effort when fourth in a competitive handicap chase over today’s course last March and that performance alone bodes well for his return visit to the Dublin-based track.

No match for both Fil D’Or and Saint Roi over an inadequate two miles at Navan last time, that run at least served the purpose of putting a nice edge on the nine-year-old for today’s assignment and with the step up to three miles threatening to play into his strengths, he rates a decent each-way proposition at the morning odds.

BALDOMERO (best price 7/2) just came off worse in a rousing finish over tonight’s course yesterday and he’s fancied to make the quick turnaround a winning one in this similar heat.

A little keen off tepid early fractions, Mick Appleby’s gelding then was forced to challenge widest of all rounding the home bend and in doing so, he forfeited ground he could ill afford to lose. To his great credit, however, he kept on pretty bravely all the way down the straight to finish a creditable second to the smart course specialist Civil Law and over a trip just beyond his best, that performance has to go down as a commendable one.

Back over the same C&D where he posted his fastest ever speed figure in last season’s Lincoln Trial, the four-year-old looks sure to have a big say in the final outcome.