Tuesday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

MUTAANY (best price 7/4) returns to action having been gelded since seen winning at Brighton towards the backend of last season and, in the hope he’s fit enough to do himself justice after his 201-day absence, Charles Hills’ inmate receives the vote to kick start his new campaign in the best possible fashion.

Runner-up three times on the spin, the son of Invincible Spirit was a very warm order to finally break his duck at the seaside venue and despite racing on ground he’d never encountered before, he duly landed the odds. Although he was made to work harder than his position in the market suggested, time has dictated he was beating no mean rival that day and with the form of some of his other performances – such as his second to Kerdos at Haydock – working out well subsequently, he actually finds himself on not a bad mark for the season ahead.

Hailing from a yard who have been winning with plenty of horses making their seasonal bows, confidence is fairly high this potentially useful sprinter in the making can follow suit.

An above-average beginners’ chase by the track standards, highlighted by the fact the likes of Hercule Du Seuil and Roseys Hollow have both competed at Grade 1 level over hurdles, but one of the most interesting runners in the field is SENECIA (best price 9/1), and a chance is taken Vincent Halley’s inmate can make some sort of impact on his chase debut.

A smooth winner of a maiden hurdle over 2m4f at Wexford last summer, the six-year-old has only had two runs since, but with the most recent of them coming at Grade 3 level, it highlights how well he’s regarded by his connections. Indeed, had he not hit a mid-race crisis in that three-mile event at Cork, he may have finished a little closer to the winner, Hiddenvalley Lake, but even so, crossing the line right behind the likes of Cool Survivor, Monbeg Park (won twice since) and Letsbeclearaboutit (twice fourth at Grade 1 level) still goes down as a fair effort under the circumstances.

Although he’s likely to prove better over further than tonight’s trip in time, this looks a good starting point for the son of Ask and with a pedigree that suggests he should improve for the larger obstacles, a big run is anticipated despite his 142-day absence.