Tuesday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

GRANNY BUDGIE (NAP) (best price 7/2) left a lasting impression on those who witnessed her score in tidy fashion on debut at Nottingham 19 days ago and with today’s contest seen as a natural progression to something possibly more meaningful further down the line, George Scott’s filly can keep her trainer’s fine run with his juveniles going in the right direction.

Seemingly unfancied at the Midland track, hence her starting price of 16-1, it soon became apparent she was going to outrun her odds and after moving sweetly into contention two furlongs out, it just became a question of whether she had sufficient knowhow to run down stable companion Vice Captain.

Answering the question in the affirmative, the daughter of Massaat ended up scoring with more in hand than the bare result suggests and with the speed figure she posted pointing towards a fair effort for a first time out juvenile, it has become no surprise to see the form work out well subsequently (fourth horse home won twice since).

Clearly above-average on the evidence of her opening gambit, she looks the type who will continue to improve with more racing and hailing from a yard who had a couple of nice two-year-old winners at Windsor last night, it would come as no surprise if she would make it three on the spin from her potentially favourable draw.

CHALLY CHUTE (best price 4/1) has missed several engagements of late due to unsuitably fast conditions, but with the recent rain falling just in time for him to contest this decent pot, a chance is taken Michael Halford & Tracy Collins’ charge getting this trip at the first time of asking.

A big improver from humble beginnings last season, the son of Fast Company kicked off his campaign with a promising effort at Tipperary, staying on nicely to finish third behind two race-fit rivals in a competitive handicap, and because of the lack of rain, we have had to wait 89 days to see his face reappear.

Although he has yet to race beyond 1m4f so far, the way he has finished off her races suggests he will get further and with no doubt the Galway Festival in a couple of weeks on the agenda, a big run here should answer the question of whether he is a candidate for the big amateur rider’s race over two miles on the opening day.

SO SMART (best price 15/2) would not bowl you over with his win-to-run ratio, but at the same time, he is reliable at this level – particularly on soft ground – and with today’s conditions falling just right for David Evans’ inmate, another solid run looks on the cards at a track where he has gone well in the past.

Although only sixth of the seven-strong field at Lingfield last time out, he did keep on quite well after being outpaced over that sharp five-furlongs on fast ground and he should be better judged in the context of today’s assignment with his achievements on an easier surface.

Go back to his first run of the season and his runner-up spot to Stone Circle comes out extremely well on the numbers compared to most of today’s rivals and a repeat of something similar should she him reward each-way support.