Andy Holding's Monday Horse Racing Tips

RUBIS (NAP) (best price 15-8) has often shaped liked she needs a proper test of stamina, and she gets the chance to put that viewpoint to the test here today’s under conditions that will hopefully play into her strengths. Richard Fahey’s inmate has on many occasions got going too late and that was very much the case at Pointefract last time out when she rattled home in the closing stages having been outpaced as the tempo picked up well from the three pole. With the winner of that race, Bonnie Arlene looking progressive and the runner-up, Livella Fella going on to score next time out, the form appears solid in the context of today’s assignment and it would come something of a disappointment if she, therefore, were to miss out on this golden-looking opportunity.

One turf win in 26 starts doesn’t exactly inspire massive confidence in SOMETHING LUCKY (best price 6-1), but he did stage a bit of a revival at Wolverhampton last week so there’s a small chance he could add to that poor win-to-run ratio at a track that might just suit his run-style. Often slowly away, Danial Steele’s inmate was once again found himself in the rear at the Dunstall Park venue three days’ courtesy of a tardy beginning, but contrary to many efforts in the past, he did finish off his race with the sort of purpose than gave plenty of encouragement for the future. In running the last two furlongs in 22.7, he not only ran the fastest closing splits on the seven-race card, but he almost pulled off an unlikely victory from a seemingly impossible position turning for home. Providing he doesn’t get too far behind here today and he’s well within striking distance meeting the rising ground two out, it will be interesting to see what kind of finish he can produce on his first attempt at this unique track.

Front runners can often have a huge advantage on the chase course at this venue, so with that in mind, TOWNSHEND (best price 15-8) can capitalise on his valuable experience over his main market rival Landandhopeandglory – who would also prefer better ground. A useful hurdler, Willie Mullins’ charge has taken really well to fences and although he has fallen once in four starts, he was in the process of running a huge race in a Grade 1 at Punchestown. Either side of that slight blemish, the son of Lord Of England has jumped with aplomb when making all the running at a strong pace and as he’s likely to put his rivals to the sword from an early stage here this evening, most of them should have difficulty keeping up with this free-going sort around this sharp track.

ARZAAK (best price 5-1) has been in tremendous form throughout the winter on the all-weather circuit and he seems to have carried that consistent level onto the turf based on his last two performances. Runner-up to the very speedy Carlton Frankie at Nottingham two starts ago, the Casamento gelding got his just rewards for that effort with a game victory at Catterick last time out and with the speed figure of that race at the Yorkshire track suggesting it was a fair race of its kind, a 3lb rise shouldn’t be enough to prevent him going well again in this similar contest.