Andy Holding's Monday Racing Tips

Although 2m 4f is ostensibly on the short side for GET ON THE YAGER (best price 6-4), today’s heavy ground – particularly at this track - should ensure it’s more of a test than usual, and with the knowledge that his main market rival, Two Swallows, hails from a yard who hasn’t had a winner for 48 days and 38 runners, Dan Skelton’s inmate is fancied to complete his hat trick. Not only has his Fontwell win back in December been franked by the second and third, Ramses De Teillee and Leo Luna, Wakanda winning the Skybet Chase at Doncaster last week also paid a handsome complement to his victory in the Rowland Merick at Wetherby last time out. On each occasion the Tamure gelding stayed on very strongly in the latter stages and being a fairly uncomplicated type, his tactical versatility should stand him in good stead however today’s race pans out.

Although the tide has to change soon, the fact of the matter remains Ben Pauling hasn’t had a winner for thick end of two months and that makes it hard to get stuck into Global Citizen despite the horse being acquired from Jonjo O’Neill’s yard recently. It makes perfect sense therefore, to go with the percentage of call of playing ASHKOUL (NAP) (best price 7-4) against him under today’s circumstances and it’s not as if Dan Skelton’s inmate hasn’t got obvious claims in his own right. Runner up over today’s C&D two starts ago, the five-year-old got his just rewards at Market Rasen last time out when accounted for subsequent winner, Ballinsea Bridge with a bit to spare. Having now proven that he can handle soft, Winter ground as well as a decent surface, this smooth-traveller can take advantage of any negativity displayed by the favourite.

Anthony McCann has a 2-6 strike rate when sending horses to this track from his Co Monaghan base and there’s a decent chance those stats will improve here this afternoon with his two runners, Three Majors (runs in 5.15) and TEMASEK STAR (best price 7-2) looking to have obvious claims. The latter has been running to a decent and consistent standard on a regular basis at Dundalk for several seasons now and he can usually be relied upon to run his race in the right grade. Although he was rarely for him out of the frame on his latest outing, that slightly below par was expected in many respects because it was off the back of a 176-day break and he hasn’t got a particularly good record when fresh. The real positive aspect of his chance this afternoon, however, stems from the fact he managed to score on his only outing over today’s course back in April when he came from a good way back to wear down With Hindsight right on the line. Yet to win over today’s trip, or even try the distance, the son of Soviet Star shouldn’t have too many issues on that score given that he did manage to win over 1m 7f at Leopardstown last summer and with a nice starting position hugging the rail from stall one, he should get the perfect opportunity to have plenty of cover throughout the first lap before being played late in his bid for glory.

A tight little affair between those towards the front end of the market and of those having leading claims, JACKFINBAR (best price 3-1) makes most appeal at the morning prices. Relatively unfancied in what looked a competitive maiden over today’s C&D back in December, Harry Dunlop’s charge belied his market position with a display of some magnitude and given that was his first attempt on the all-weather and he has the size and scope to progress even further, confidence is high he can continue on the right path. Moreover, his overall speed figure and circuit sectionals 49 days ago stack up well compared to his two main rivals here tonight and one could argue that he should be favourite based on those findings.