Andy Holding's Monday Horse Racing Tips

Given how strong the Dundalk action has been this winter, it’s no great surprise, therefore, most of the runners sent over here have been able to turn away their UK counterparts (Times In Anatefka, Carveles, Oor Jock, Pivot Bridge and Shamash recent examples) and in the shape of BOTTLEOFSMOKE (best price 5-2), there looks to be another cab off the rank. Although yet to win a race in 15 starts, there has been plenty of encouragement of late that the maiden tag will be shed sooner rather than later and if you ignore his last two efforts – where genuine excuses can be offered – a repeat of either of his two placed performances at the home of Ireland’s only all-weather track would easily qualify him to take a huge slice of the pie in a race as poor as this. Indeed, his display when runner-up from a poor draw three starts ago suggest he’s capable of better than his current rating of 47 indicates and with the likes of King Christophe and Free State both going on to advertise the worth of that form, Gavin Cromwell’s charge is fancied to finally get off the mark.

Pam Sly has a decent record at one of her local tracks and ALL MY LOVE (NAP) (best price 2-1) looks to have bright prospects of adding to the Cambridgeshire handler’s tally in this mares’ only contest. A faller on her first try over hurdles, the daughter Lord Shanakil quickly made up for that mishap with a smooth winning performance over today’s C&D next time and she might well have followed up at Catterick last time but for getting involved in a needless dual up front with her main market rival Golden Vision. She still, however, ran to a fair standard despite the kamikaze ride, and with today’s opposition useful, but by no means any great shakes, it would be slightly disappointing if she couldn’t make her class tell.

FUTURE GILDED (best price 5-2) travelled like the best horse in the race last time out at Wetherby until just getting outstayed by the in-form Shanroe Santos late on, but he’s fancied to gain his just rewards for that sterling effort at a track where he’s already got proven solid form in the bag. The feature of that race at the Yorkshire venue was the strong pace and with the winner going on to advertise the form at Sandown next time out, Jamie Snowden’s inmate appears to have a gilt edged chance if he can translate that level of performance to hurdles off a 5lb lower mark than his chase rating.