Top tips for Tuesday: Haulani can strike at Catterick

Cheltenham at the weekend ran the whole gamut of emotions that can make National Hunt racing at times seem the best sport in the world and at others the worst.

The loss of Starchitect cast a significant shadow over the afternoon, and while all losses are acutely felt, the way in which the moment changed from one of exultation at witnessing a racehorse in full cry to the scenes that followed emphasised the thin line between triumph and disaster that the sport treads.

Then just half an hour later two veterans of the jumping scene reminded all of the affection which National Hunt horses gather over their careers.

The last time My Tent Or Yours won a race over hurdles was beating The New One in the 2013 Christmas Hurdle, and here nearly four years on the two once again fought out the finish to a cacophony of noise and an outpouring of emotion.

The longevity of such horses, just weeks off their 11th and 10th birthdays respectively, amass loyal followings and only emphasises further why those taken before their time are so sadly mourned.

My Tent Or Yours and The New One served up a great race (PA)

Three meetings on Tuesday if Fakenham passes its early morning inspection and the selections are well scattered starting with:

Brian Ellsion and Dan Skelton are among the best at getting the most out of horses in their care and here they clash with hurdling debutantes Haulani and Solo Saxophone.

The latter has the rather dubious honour of I think being the first of Frankel’s progeny to run under National Hunt Rules whilst Haulani was a decent handicapper on the level with Philip Hide.

The key with horses that move to Ellison for the first time is how quickly they reappear. Those who are off the track for more than 75 days are 18/197 (A/E 0.86 VS Par of 1.00) since 1997 whilst those turning out in less than 75 days are 52/221 for an A/E of 1.63.

The stable won the race 12 months ago with Nietzsche and hopefully Haulani can follow suit.

Mama Africa finally got off the mark at the 22nd time of asking when winning a maiden here over 7f.

It was, however, the first time she had run at the track and the handicapper may have been lenient in leaving her mark pretty much unchanged.

She faces a bit of competition for the lead in Medici Moon but her yard of David Barron is very much one to keep an eye on this winter after a very quiet last couple of months and several of his horses look well treated.

If Fakenham survives the morning inspection then Mamoo looks as if he can boss the staying handicap. The change to more forward tactics suited last time and he showed a good attitude when tackled.

If he can erase the couple of errors he made that day then the further increase in trip could also act in his favour.

His fourth place here over a mile two starts ago was better than it looked as he travelled really strongly but looked as if he failed to last home.

Placed either side of that run and still below the mark off which he last won in August 2016 he is of interest for his fourth run back with the yard with whom he won that day after a spell with Jane Chapple Hyam.

Richard's top tips for Tuesday: