Tuesday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

Staffordshire Knot is undoubtably one of the potential stars on show here today, but he has been priced up accordingly whereas bookmakers seem to have been a shade dismissive regarding GROOVYKINDOFLOVE (best price 6/1) and that view may turn out to be ill conceived. 

Sent off 40-1 in a hot maiden hurdle at Naas on debut, Henry De Bromhead’s inmate performed way better than expectations and with a slicker round of jumping, she may have bettered her finishing position behind the useful Quai De Bourbon. Not only was the speed figure from the Co Kildare venue very good, but the form has also worked out well accordingly and with the potential of even more to come following that all-important run under her belt, she looks booked for the frame at the very least. 

D ART D ART (NAP) (best price 2/1) tuned in a much-improved performance when scoring in tidy fashion at Cork last time out and with connections deciding to take the easy option and bring him here rather than tackle Grade 1 company at the DRF next week, the five-year-old deserves to be played accordingly. 

Shaping as though he would be all the better for the experience on his hurdles debut at Naas, Thomas Cooper’s gelding was well supported to play a more significant role at the Mallow track and, after racing prominently throughout, he ended up justifying the confidence behind him with a display of some authority. The feature of his performance 17 days ago was his slick hurdling which allowed to nick a length or here and there over his main rivals and that proficient technique also allowed him to secure a smart speed figure. 

Likely to be ridden in a similarly positive vein here this afternoon, it will take a good one to lower his colours once he’s in full cry.

GAYE LEGACY (best price 9/2) had to be considered a bit of an unlucky loser in a decent quality mares’ only affair at Kempton last time out and using the adage ‘she looks a winner without a penalty’, Tom Symonds’ inmate can back up that view dropping back in class.

Runner-up to the progressive Kyntara at Aintree previously, it came as no surprise to see her prominent in the market at the Sunbury track and everything seemed to be going smoothly until she clipped heels with Glimpse Of Gala after the third last and almost came down. Virtually losing any chance of winning at this point, the six-year-old amazingly ran on so strongly inside the final half a mile she ended up only getting beaten two lengths and considering she lost at least three times that outing of ground at a crucial stage, her endeavours need significantly upgrading.

A strong stayer at the trip with a preference for soft conditions, the daughter of Flemensfirth should be in her element around today’s galloping track and given her consistent profile, she makes plenty of each-way appeal.

O’CONNELL (best price 11/4) travelled like the best horse for the majority of the 3m3f in the Lincolnshire National last time until not quite seeing the trip out as well as anticipated, but with connections probably making the wise decision to come here over shorter rather than tackle 3m5f on soft ground at Lingfield yesterday, Sue Smith’s progressive chaser can continue to climb up the ranks.

A smooth winner over subsequent Huntingdon scorer at the same track previously, it was easy to see why the lightly raced novice was popular with the punters on Boxing Day and there was a huge roar from the packed grandstands when he loomed up going easily on the run down to three out. Still in with every chance at the last despite coming off the bridle, he ultimately came up just a little short in the final push to the line, but he still comes out of the contest with enough credit in the bank to suggest he deserves to be kept on side.

Only the evidence of what we’ve gathered from him so far to date, distances in and around the three-mile range are going to suit him best for the time being and everything looks set fair for him to put up another bold show this afternoon.

MOYOLA (best price 7/1) can count himself extremely unlucky to bump into a horse of Invincible Speed’s qualities at Wolverhampton last time out and without seemingly anything of the same calibre up against him here tonight, there’s every chance he can go one place better.

Tracking the speed on the inside after breaking on terms from stall one at the Dunstall Park venue, Lucinda Russell’s inmate was noted still going well off the home turn, but it was from that point the winner really kicked in the turbo and caught of heels momentarily, he could never get back on terms with a horse who showed such a smart turn of foot for the grade.

Indeed, the numbers from that race 11 days ago suggested it was very useful form for 0-70 sprinters and to finish a clear second best going on strongly at the line points towards him running a career high by some margin.

Once again housed in stall 1 again tonight, he will obviously need a decent amount of luck in running to work himself into a challenging position turning for home but, in the hope he can pull off that feat, the improving three-year-old is worth a reasonable interest at the morning odds.