Andy Holding's Monday Racing Tips

In interesting contest involved several improving last-time-out winners, with the vote going in favour of SILVER RIVER (best price 2-1) on account of his better speed figures. A promising third on debut on in October when he came from a long way back to be never-nearer at the finish, the Tamayuz gelding was much more streetwise in every department second time up over the same C&D and that enabled him to run down his opposition in the closing stages and win going away.  A fairly uncomplicated type in the sense he seems to switch off in his races, he also looks the type that will improvement significantly from race to race, and if that turns out to be the case here this evening, it’s highly likely he will end up justifying his position in the market.

It can’t be any coincidence that DIOCLES OF ROME’s (NAP) (best price 2-1) two best performance have arisen from running over today’s track and following a breakthrough victory over the C&D last time out, Ralph Beckett’s gelding is strongly fancied to repeat the dose.

Having looked as though the mile trip just stretched his stamina on his first visit to the Sunbury track, the drop back down to seven seemed a wise move and as it panned out, the son of Holy Roman Emperor proved a revelation over the new distance. Always moving well in behind a decemt pace 17 days ago, the three-year-old quickened up nicely once the gap appeared at the intersection and even though he seemed to spend the last furlong star-gazing and mucking about in front, he never looked like relinquishing the lead he’d established. Perfectly housed in stall one for his hold-up tactics, hopefully the gaps will come again just at the right moment and his nice turn of foot should once again prove the decisive factor.