Andy Holding's Monday Racing Tips

Obviously, there’s a certainly degree of guesswork attached to the chances of HIDE THE BISCUIT (best price 3-1) having her first run for a new yard, but providing she can run to the level she’s shown in Ireland on several occasions, or maybe even find just an extra bit of improvement, Tim Vaughan’s acquisition should be capable of going close in a race of this modest nature.

Well beaten by some useful mares in a decent little contest at Down Royal when last seen, prior to that the daughter of Whitmore’s Conn had figured prominently in a couple of hugely competitive handicaps hurdles at Downpatrick and Down Royal respectively. Indeed, in the latter of those performances at the Co Down venue, she stayed on well to finish a creditable third of a 20-strong field in a well-run affair and with several of those in behind that day going on to boost the form subsequently, she offered up more than a faint hope that she can finally shake off her maiden status at some stage. A dual winner between the flags in Ireland on good ground, today’s step up in trip and decent surface should, in theory, suit this lightly-raced eight-year-old and she rates a reasonable proposition at the morning odds.

The gelded first-time Salute The Soldier clocked a big number in landing a gamble on handicap debut at Chelmsford last week and will be hard to beat if translating the same level of form over ton tonight’s track, but the better value option in the race might lie with playing ENZEMBLE (best price 7-2) in the ‘without the favourite’ market. A good winner over tonight’s C&D back in August, the Zoffany colt has rather lost his way since but several of those backwards steps have come as a result of him refusing to settle and being stepped up a trip he was never likely to stay given his propensity to race keenly. Back under his optimum conditions, therefore, he faces a more realistic task than the one of being asked to outstay the massively improving. Mootasadir over 1m 3f here three starts ago, and with the excellent Gerard Mosse in the saddle to provide him with all he needs, James Fanshawe’s classly-looking colt can put up a bold display.