Andy Holding's Monday Racing Tips

For those of us who got involved in the gamble on MIRIMAR (NAP) (best price 15-8) over today’s C&D last time out, several still need counselling, but for those who’ve made a full off the psychiatrist’s couch, Ed Vaughan’s inmate can provide the perfect tonic to make a full recovery. For 99% of that race 11 days ago, everything looked plain sailing for the son of Kalanisi but, having travelled sweetly throughout before sweeping into what looked an unassailable lead two out, along came Arrowtown from another post code to pick his pocket with a late thrust close home. In retrospect, maybe asking a three-year-old to make all the running over a stiff track on heavy ground probably wasn’t ideal, but he still showed that he has plenty of quality for a young horse and he’s fancied to make amends if given a more circumspect ride here this afternoon.

There has to be an element of guesswork regards GAWDAWPALIN (best price 7-2) over today’s trip, but he easily has the best form and speed figures coming into this race so the chance is worth taking he gets the extra two furlongs. A comfortable winner of a 1m 4f handicap at Ascot back in July on his first outing since gelded, Sylvester Kirk’s inmate went on to run solid races in defeat back over the same C&D on his next two starts and there was nothing wrong with his performance at Newbury when last seen either. In a bid to make all the running at the Berkshire track, he couldn’t quite pull off the feat of his uncharacteristic role, but with Danehill Kodiac going on to boost the form with a win in Group 3 company on Saturday, it just goes to show what sort of opposition he was facing that afternoon compared to today’s.