Andy Holding's Tuesday Racing Tips

One of the best winners of a bumper this season both visually and on the clock was Smurphy Enki at Wincanton a few weeks ago and having shaped fairly well considering the pace of the race and his general expectation levels, SONG OF THE HUNTER (best price 15-2) is worth a small interest in these slightly calmer waters on hurdling debut.

A winner for old connections in a point-to-point previously, Gail Hailwood’s grey was sent off one of the outsiders at the West Country venue 12 days ago, and although his position in the market was eventually justified, his run wasn’t without promise either. Latching on to the leading group coming out of the back straight, the son of Network didn’t have the pace to go with the eventual winner, who really went into another stratosphere from that point, but it was encouraging to see him get his head down and battle it out for the minor honours and that attitude will no doubt stand him good stead further down the line. Apart from the front two in the market, who both performed to a fair level last time out, this race doesn’t look the strongest maiden hurdle ever run and providing the six-year-old shows a decent technique over hurdles at the first time of asking (he has five point runs under his belt), he should easily be good enough to make some sort of impact.

COEUR SEREIN (best price 11-4) proved no match for a couple of above-average novices at Newbury last time out, but there was certainly no shame in his effort back in third given the tempo the race was run throughout and even though he faces another potentially useful sort in the shape of Global Fame, he’s fully expected to put up a decent show.

A creditable third behind the smart Kepagge in a bumper at Chepstow back in November for new connections, Jonjo O’Neill’s gelding shaped with plenty of encouragement on his hurdling debut at Kempton later in the same month. Catching the eye of the stewards that day, the son of Fame And Glory is clearly better than what he showed at the Surrey venue and he went on to prove that to be the case with a far more positive display 18 days ago. Staying on nicely in the latter stages of what turned out to be a very strongly-run affair at the Berkshire track, the six-year-old picked up the pieces late on to finish a never-nearer third behind a useful Irish recruit now in the care of Martin Pipe and that performance gives him just as good a chance here than today’s favourite, Global Fame, based on the numbers. As ever, with a horse having his third start over hurdles, there’s always a danger of the individual in question to be having a run for a handicap mark, but providing that isn’t the case and he’s allowed to run on his merits, Coeur Serein has shown the sort of ability that should see him extremely competitive.

LILY’S GEM (best price 4-1) can throw the odd bad run in for no apparent reason, but in general terms, she’s fairly reliable at this sort of level and with her confidence likely to be boosted following a gutsy success at Carlisle last time out, Shane Crawford’s mare has a decent chance of repeating the dose.

The feature of that performance at the Cumbrian venue several weeks ago was the way she travelled throughout the contest and then once asked to finish the job off after the last, she found plenty for pressure to fend off the persistent challenge of the heavily-backed favourite, Penny Mallow. Placed on both starts over today’s stiff, galloping track, the daughter of Scorpion finished a solid third behind the useful Opposites Attract in a well-run affair over the C&D back in December and a repeat of that level of form should see her go very close on her return visit.

SCOIR MEAR (best price 4-1) has been plying his trade in much tougher handicaps than the one he faces this afternoon and he’s fancied to press home his potential class edge.

On the face of it, 1 chase win in 20 is a pretty poor return for a horse of his quality, but when you considering a good majority have come in Grade B handicaps at some of the bigger venues up and down the length-and-breath of the land, it puts the modest ratio into some sort of perspective. Indeed, his latest performance in a such a contest at Leopardstown was achieved in a very fast time figure and when you consider those in behind him 16 days ago included the likes of Poker Party (Kerry National winner), and Mortal (fifth in last season’s RSA Chase), it puts his effort into some sort of context. Winner of the EBF Chase Final at Navan this time last year, the 10-year-old grey has slipped to a similar mark following a series of unplaced efforts and providing he can switch his mindset to racing left-handed for a change, he should easily be capable of holding his own at this level.