Tuesday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

CIRCUS LION (best price 15/2) made a promising start to his career at Hamilton earlier this month and with the prospect of a decent amount to come with that initial experience under his belt, Bryan Smart’s grey must come into calculations.

Gelded prior to making his debut two weeks ago, the son of Aclaim was a little slow into stride at the Scottish track but by halfway he had worked himself into a position whereby he could pose a threat if good enough.

Keeping on well in the closing stages without threatening the front two, he did, however, end up clocking a useful speed figure in what turned out to be an above par contest for juveniles and providing he can handle a bit of rain softened ground, he has certainly shown already he has enough natural ability to be competitive at this level.

PEPSI CAT (best price 9/2) only narrowly failed in her bid to follow up her previous success at Bath last time out and with there being no obvious reason why she wouldn’t run her race at a track where she has gone well twice before, Steph Hollinshead’s filly makes plenty of each-way appeal.

Drawn on the wide outside at the Somerset venue, the four-year-old had to endure a rough trip throughout the early exchanges but, undeterred by her predicament, she stayed on best of all inside the final furlong to end up forcing a photo with the well fancied Regal Envoy.

Despite coming out on the wrong side of the print, she took her game to another level according to the clock and having handled a bit of ease in the ground on her opening gambit of the season, hopefully she will equally at home on today’s surface.

DRAGON OF MALTA (best price 11/2) has had three stabs at this meeting and on each occasion, he has walked away with minor money but, following a smooth success at the Galway festival recently, hope is high Pat O’Donnell’s gelding can give local connections a much sought after and deserved success.

After racing prominent through the early exchanges at Ballybrit two months ago, he put the race to bed rounding the home turn and given the manner of victory, it was a little surprising to see him put up an uncharacteristically modest effort next time at Roscommon.

Still, he now returns to a track that suits his eye and providing he gets a good break from his favourable inside draw, the six-year-old is likely to prove a major factor throughout.

BLUES EMPEROR (best price 6/1) has come a long way in short space of time after winning a maiden at this corresponding fixture last year and with his most recent effort in a top-class handicap at The Curragh suggesting he deserves a crack at a race of this nature, Johnny Murtagh’s inmate is worth following on his first start at pattern level.

Picking up the running at three-furlong marker at the Kidare venue after travelling into the contest with plenty of style, the four-year-old looked all over the winner until the late thrust of the more patiently ridden Coeur D’Or picked his pocket close home.

Despite his defeat, connections will have still taken out plenty of positives from that performance, not least the speed figure, and with the third, ninth and twentieth all going on to boost the form subsequently, it’s easy to see the son of Gleneagles playing a leading role in this better event if running to a similar level.