Cheltenham Tips: Andy Holding's Tuesday Racing Tips

Now Ballyburn has been switched to the longer trip of the Gallagher’s on day two, this curtain raiser has become a more fascinating and wide-open affair and a lot with depend on how well Tullyhill jumps in comparison to his previous three starts.

To be fair to him he was a good deal more proficient over his hurdles at Punchestown last time and even allowing for the fact he was a bit careful over a few, he still managed to knock out a smart speed figure. 

That said, he can’t afford to give ground away in a race of this nature and the slightly safer option might prove to be SLADE STEEL (tipped 5/1) who, by proxy, represents the Ballyburn form line from the DRF. 

Allowed to take his chance at Leopardstown a month ago on account of connections not wanting him to run over a gruelling 2m6f pre-Cheltenham, the experiment of dropping back to the minimum trip proved that he could mix it against the very best of his generation in this division and once Ballyburn was muted to be going down the 2m4f route, connections of Henry De Bromhead’s gelding have been true to the word in wanting to avoid their old rival. 

Good enough to beat the smart King Of Kingsfield in a strongly run two miles over a stiff track earlier in the campaign, he’s certainly no slouch, and the combination of the speed he’s exhibited and stamina he proved he had to win at Grade 2 level over 2m4f in the Navan Novices’ Hurdle should make him a potent threat to all. 

Of those at a bigger price, it would come as no surprise to see Asian Master punch above his weight as his time figure in winning with ease at Navan last time was sneakily good. The only negative would be the inexperience of his amateur pilot in a race of this nature, but that aside, his ability alone might be good enough for him to grab a slice of the pie. 

The more you look into the stats and the sort of horse who often wins this race, there seems to be a fairly clear picture developing over the last decade, so once applying all the recent evidence on offer, TRELAWNE (tipped 8/1) is one of the few who fits most of the required criteria. 

Firstly, seven of the last nine winners ran at Cheltenham that season, which he did with distinction when chasing home top-class pair, Ginny’s Destiny and Grey Dawning on just second start over fences and it’s also worth pointing out novices or second season chasers have been responsible for 11 winners of the last 14 renewals. Nine of the last 12 wore some sort of headgear, a device (cheekpieces) he now uses following his wayward tendencies at Wetherby two starts ago, and he also qualifies on account of age and the ideal rating band (139 – 151). To add to the mix, Irish trained runners are 0-36 since Dun Doire captured this prize back in 2006 so that has to cast a little bit of doubt in the direction of two of his main challengers, Meetingofthewaters and The Goffer. 

Yet to race beyond 2m4f over fences, he looks certain to improve for the step up in trip based on his hurdles form (best effort when accounting for good field at Uttoxeter last season over 2m7f) and even though stable jockey David Bass prefers similar type, Chianti Classico, the son of Geordieland may well turn out to be the better suited by the ground (all eight races contested run on soft or heavy). 

Similar in many ways to previous stable mates Vinndication and Happygolucky, who both finished placed in this race in recent times, Kim Bailey’s inmate has all the attributes to go close if Harry Cobden can get him into a good early rhythm. 

Without Constitution Hill here to defend his crown, all eyes turn to State Man in his bid to go one place better than last season and on all known evidence, it’s hard to see him missing the target from short range (useless you’re Darwin Nunez!). 

As a betting proposition, not many, however, will be wishing to pile in on a 1-3 poke with 24 races left over the four days but for those who might want to consider a relatively pain free four minutes, both IBERICO LORD (tipped 3/1) and ZARAK THE BRAVE (tipped 13/2) could prove a better option in the ‘without the favourite’ market. 

The former has been supplemented for the race by connections and given the shape of the race without his stable companion in the field, it’s easy to see why Nicky Henderson’s gelding is allowed to roll the dice. 
The form of his Greatwood victory over the C&D has worked out well and so too has his most recent triumph at Newbury, highlighted by the first and second home in the Imperial Cup on Saturday. A lover of soft ground and a strong pace, a similar patient ride to what he received at the Berkshire venue is likely to ensure he gobbles up most of the supplementary fee at the very least. 

The latter isn’t a total million to run well here considering that some of his best career efforts have come in strongly run events and he has a run style that should ensure he picks up the pieces late on. 

His best time figure came when he landed the Galway Hurdle (similar to Sharjah before he finished placed here) back in the summer and he’s subsequently gone on to prove himself capable of running a decent number on winter ground at Naas last time out. 

A strong traveller who seems to settle much better nowadays, the son of Zarak can prove he is not here just to make up the numbers. 

Arguably one of the toughest handicaps to solve throughout the four days with so many unexposed types going to post - as SPs of 18-1, 10-1, 80-1, 33-1 twice and 25-1 have proved in recent times - but strangely during that period, the novices’ hurdle run at Navan last month has produced four of the last five winners, so with that in mind, EAGLE FANG (tipped 20/1) is probably worth more than a second look.

Disappointing when not facing the first-time cheekpieces at Grade 2 level previously, the son of Free Eagle was on a bit of a confidence-boosting mission at the Co Meath venue last time out and off solid fractions set by front-running Bright Legend, he stayed on strongly in the closing stages to rebuild some of his lost reputation. 

On the evidence of the clock that day, he proved he can handle a well-run affair under testing conditions and with this race being the plan for some time, William Durkan’s inmate can easily outrun his odds. Of the rest, Nara looks interesting having also contested the same Navan heat, while Miss Manzor and Karia Des Blaises represent a strong form line/time figure from Fairyhouse last time out.

It’s undeniable both Corbett’s Cross and Embassy Gardens are two of the classiest performers on show in the finale on day one, but it’s also a little disconcerting to see hoods employed for the first time on the pair, which suggests maybe connections feel as though they might be keener than ideal in the early part of the 3m6f journey. 

Whether that turns out to be the case only time will tell but either way, there are risks attached and it might well prove a wise idea to steer clear of the pair in favour KILBEG KING (tipped at 10/1 3 places) who comes over as one who should have no issues staying the trip. 

Good enough to land an ultra-competitive, big-field handicap hurdle at last season’s Punchestown Festival, Anthony Honeyball’s gelding has taken really well to fences based on his four performances so far to date and although he hasn’t managed to get his head in front yet, his last two runs in defeat have been of the highest class. 

Unable to lay a glove on crack French raider Il Est Francais in the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, he did, however keep on gamely to finish upsides the ill-fated Hermes Allen and when you consider how well he jumped in the heat of battle that day, his credentials for today’s contest become a little more crystal clear. 

Moreover, his latest effort in the Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase at Ascot recently went a long way to prove he belongs at the top table and given the way he was staying on over three miles at the Berkshire venue, it bodes well for his bid over today’s extra six furlongs. Henry’s Friend, winner of that quality and strongly run affair at the Berkshire venue, along with third Apples Away are both plausible alternatives.