Andy Holding's Monday Racing Tips

JACOB’S PILLOW (best price 7-1) did pretty well in the circumstances to finish second here last time out and now returning to the Yorkshire track from a much more favourable draw, the in-form sprinter looks set to go well again. Hung out to dry from stall 13 right out on the wing, Rebecca Bastiman’s inmate was forced to take early medicine by being dropped out the back from his coffin box draw, but he somehow managed to drag himself back into the thick end of the action to finish a never-nearer runner-up to the track specialist Oriental Splendour. Prior to that praiseworthy effort, the six-year-old had landed a similar heat in tidy fashion at Beverley and proving he can break on terms and hold his position from an early stage, there’s a decent chance he will be competitive in the charge to the line off the home bend.

WINSTON C (NAP) (best price 4-1) has run two promising races so far this season and he looks poised to strike over a trip that should play into his strengths. Third on his opening bow since last August at Kempton, he may have actually bettered that position had he not clipped heels and almost come down going into the first bend and although occupied the same spot on the podium last time out at Newmarket, he shaped as though he may require further to be seen to best effect. Outpaced as the tempo increased at HQ, he did, however, keep on willingly behind two potentially nice staying types in the shape of Weekender and Monticello and a repeat of that level of form racing over an extra two furlongs should see Michael Bell’s charge throwing his cap in the ring for top honours.

SWAFFHAM BULBECK (best price 20-1) ran with a good deal of encouragement for the future in a hot maiden at Nottingham on debut and with that initial experience under his belt, he should be capable of outrunning his odds granted just normal improvement. Held up out the back from his wide draw, Ed Vaughan’s stayed on promisingly all the way down the straight from an uncompromising position and although he got beaten a fair way in sixth, the time figures of the first few home that day, suggested it was a fair race of its nature. Indeed, Decision Maker, who ran a similar race in ninth that day, almost cause a 66-1 shock back at the same track last time out, so it’s pretty clear that the participants that caught the eye at the Colwick Park venue are worth following for the foreseeable future.