Cheltenham Tips: Andy Holding's Tuesday Racing Tips

Facile Vega has arguably divided the biggest opinion among punters and pundits alike during the build-up to the curtain raiser and, as a result, he sets the tone, in many respects, to how your week might pan out whichever side of the fence you sit.

The horse that strode majestically clear to Grade 1 success at Leopardstown over the Christmas period would make him a tempting proposition at his current price (was odds-on prior to that race), but the latest version back over the same C&D has to leave you with a certain amount of doubt.

Obviously, being pestered for the early lead by High Definition didn’t help matters and he was reported to be slightly lame after the race, but either way, his performance can’t be considered as ideal going into the biggest race of his life. Added to the fact 15 of the 17 winners of the Supreme all won on their latest starts and he makes limited appeal at his current price.

While all the attention was focused on the demise of Willie Mullins’ inmate, not enough credit was afforded stable mate IL ETAIT TEMPS (best price 9-2) and he rates the percentage call at the prices as a solid each-way alternative to the favourite.

Beaten fair and square by his old rival back in December, he did, at least prove that he belongs in Grade 1 company and that view was very much vindicated on his return to the Dublin venue a month later. Dropped in by his pilot once realising the early gallop was stronger than anticipated, the son of Jukebox Jury made steady headway to race on the heels of Facile Vega approaching the home turn and then when asked to go and win his race on the run down to the last, he found a decisive turn of foot to pull readily clear.

Scoring by an impressive ten lengths, there didn’t appear to be any fluke about the result and with the post-race date going a long way to back up that view, the five-year-old grey carries forward into his biggest test to date with the fastest time figure of the entire field.

To add further gloss to his chances, he has experience of the festival before, having run well in last year’s Triumph, and he should also cope with soft ground, something he’s done numerous times in his career. If there is a slight flaw, his jumping at times could be a little slicker, but providing he manages to jump with a reasonable degree of fluency over the eight flights, there’s no obvious reason why he shouldn’t be bang in contention as the business end.

CORACH RAMBLER (best price 6/1) produced an astonishing performance to land this prize last season and with his preparations seemingly going pretty much according to script again this term, the chance of Lucinda Russell’s inmate repeating the dose appear highly probable.

One of several victims of the standing start here twelve months ago, as a result, the son of Jeremy found himself with a mountain to climb going out onto the final circuit. However, not only did the nine-year-old make up a huge amount of ground to get himself back into the argument approaching the home turn, the staying power he exhibited to propel himself clear up the hill was something to behold.

Shaping as though badly needing the run over an inadequate trip on his first start for 229-days at Carlisle back in October, he hasn’t been seen out since running on strongly from the rear of the field to finish fourth in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury a month later, and with connections seemingly quite happy he comes here a fresh horse, he can go along way to putting his Grand National credentials in the shop window.

Of the rest, Into Overdrive represents the strong Roland Meyrick form line boosted by Gold Cup hope Sounds Russian subsequently, while Monbeg Genuis is another who appears to be on a huge upward curve. Fastorslow rates an interesting contender having been taking on Grade 1 company over inadequate trips, the only slightly off-putting aspect to his claims is the Irish haven’t won this race for the last 17 years.

The performance of Constitution Hill in last year’s Supreme not only announced Nicky Henderson’s inmate as a special talent, but it also suggested he would have won the Champion Hurdle based on the time figure he produced compared to Honeysuckle. One year on, and he now finds himself at the top of the tree and very much expected to vindicate that opinion.

With the open-top bus awaiting his arrival in the winner’s enclosure, the most interesting battle might turn out to be who follows the son of Blue Bresil home and, although it at first glance appears State Man is most likely to do the honours, I LIKE TO MOVE IT (best price 6/1) might have something to say about the matter.

It’s hard to say whether it was the ground, the trip, or a combination of both factors why Nigel Twiston-Davies’ gelding disappointed so badly in the Relkeel Hurdle two starts ago, but there can be no denying how well he left that form behind him at Wincanton last time out.

Despite slipping badly into the first hurdle and losing ground, the son of Trans Island soon regained his poise and it became apparent from along way out he was travelling all over his rivals that included smart pair, Knappers Hill and First Street. Once picking up the running two out, the six-year-old eased majestically clear and in scoring by a long-looking 17 lengths, he ran by some way his best ever speed figure.

Clearly well-suited by sitting just off a strong gallop, hopefully, Sam Twiston-Davies will employ similar tactics behind whoever decides to make the running and, safe in the knowledge his mount is 3-3 over today’s Old Course, a well delivered challenge can bolster those impressive stats and see him finish in the first three at the very least.

Probably one of the toughest races to decipher all week with so many unknown qualities going to post but in what looks one of the weaker renewals in recent times, there’s a fair chance either BYKER (best price 6/1) or BAD (best price 8/1) can step up to the plate.

First and foremost, the home contingent appear a particularly weak bunch this year – backed up by the fact Perseus Way is the only one holding solid Graded form – and beyond him, there’s only Samuel Spade and Shared who have posted anything like decent numbers on the clock.

There should be, therefore, scope for something else to come along and prove they could be a good deal better than what they’ve already shown and the former definitely falls into that category.

His victory on just his second start over hurdles at Naas strongly suggested he is going in the right direction and the form of the race has worked out subsequent to back up that view (four individual winners since).

Sent back to the same C&D for his latest assignment, the son of Le Havre just lost out in a race that was noted for its tactical nature, but at the same time, he was spotted doing some nice late work just behind the front pair without being unduly punished. Interestingly, three out of the last four winners of the Boodles have come out of that contest at the Co Kildare venue and with connections no doubt quite happy with their current assessment of 128, the big, strapping gelding has plenty going in his favour.

The latter could easily turn out to be the best handicapped horse in the entire field, especially when you consider the French assessor has him on a mark of 138. Not seen out since running out an impressive winner of a conditions hurdle in his native land; he’s subsequently been snapped up by shrewd new connections with a view of exploiting his UK perch and having resisted the temptation not to run him on these shores – including in the Grade 2 won by Comfort Zone here on trials day – they have certainly given themselves every chance of their patience being rewarded.

A smooth traveller who jumps well and appreciates plenty of ease underfoot, the booking of Rachel Blackmore is the final sign of their intentions.