Tuesday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

There was a strong possibility Libberty Hunter would have prevailed but for falling three out at Chepstow on his chase debut but even accounting for that probability, NON STOP (Best price 7/4) sets the standard with his completely round against the improving Heroes and, as a result, the vote of confidence goes in his favour.

Promising behind subsequent winner Arclight at Kempton on chase debut (travelled well before blowing up two out), the four-year-old was well supported in a keenly contested affair at Taunton a month later and for large portions of that well run 2m2f affair, he looked like he was going to land the punt. Unfortunately for him and his supporters, he came up a little short in the final analysis against a well-treated horse on his chase debut and he ended up having to settle for a gallant runner-up spot.

However, with the winner and third both going on to advertise the strength of the form/time figure since, it surely won’t be long before he has his day in the spotlight and under ideal conditions, he rates a decent bet for everything to fall right today.

LORD OF THUNDER (Best price 11/10), down in class after having a crack at the Grade 2 Persian War on his hurdling debut, was much more at home in calmer waters here last time and a repeat of his effort behind the useful Il Pino should be good enough for him to get off the mark on his fifth attempt.

Despite being back amongst maidens at the west country venue, Joe Tizzard’s inmate still faced stiff opposition in the shape of Il Pino and Pentire Head and although he couldn’t quite live with the former in the latter part of the well-run contest, he still ran to a decent standard according to the numbers.

Not only did the race in question produce the fastest overall time figure on the hurdles track, but the final circuit time was also on par with the two-mile maiden won by the talented Pawapuri and with the fourth home, Thirtyfour Thirty, going on to land a handicap at Fontwell last week, the form is already beginning to take shape.

Down in trip slightly and racing on better ground, he is likely to prove too good for penalised Canty Bay and the rest.

NON STOP and LORD OF THUNDER – 1-point win double

HALL LANE (best price 10/3) shaped nicely on his chase debut behind the well regarded The Same at Market Rasen last month and today’s contest looks a good opportunity for him to go one place better with seemingly nothing of that calibre in his way.

Sent off the outsider of the six-strong field at the Lincolnshire venue, Alan King’s charge took a while to warm to his task in a race that was run at a brisk tempo from the start but once he got his jumping together on the second circuit, it soon became apparent he was going to be the only one to offer any sort of threat to the well-backed favourite.

Although he didn’t quite see his race out as well as the eventual winner, he impressed with the way he kept on well to secure a nice slice of the pie and with the strong possibility he would have learnt a huge amount from that initial experience, anything other than a bold show here will go down as a major blow to connections.