Andy Holding's Monday Racing Tips

BREAKING WAVES (NAP) (best price 2-1) finished a creditable third in a bumper that has worked out supremely well at Cheltenham on his seasonal reappearance and he’s fancied to give the short-priced favourite, Acey Milan, all the trouble he can handle providing he takes to hurdles at the first time of asking. Impressive when off the mark at the first time of asking in a bumper at Huntingdon last season, Nick Williams’ four-year-old was strongly fancied to keep his unbeaten record intact when sent to Prestbury Park in October and although he failed in his bid to justify 7-2 second favouritism, he still came out of the race with great credit. In keeping on strongly all the way to the line, the son of Yeats was only just behind subsequent scorer Master Debonair and with the likes of Champagne Court and Northern Bound both going on to record victories since, the value of the form has been well and truly advertised. Whether he can cope with today’s softer conditions is a moot point, but he does have plenty of size and scope and it’s not as if he main market rival pulled up any trees on hurdling debut at Ffos Las on his seasonal return.

GLORIOUS BORU (best price 33-1) has shaped with more encouragement that the bare results have suggested on his two starts under rules and even though there’s always a concern that’ll be a classic case of third run for a handicap mark here this afternoon, he simply has to be worth a small interest at the morning odds in the hope that he’s allowed to run on his merits. Shaping well until a bad mistake at the third last set him back on his rules debut at Kempton (he probably didn’t stay the 2m 5f trip either), the son of Brian Boru once again caught the eye in what turned out to be a very well contested and strongly-run novice event at Lingfield last week. Held together when his chance was a forlorn one at the Surrey venue, Zoe Davison’s inmate came home with plenty of pep in his step and even getting beaten 20 lengths by the likes of Champagne Court (previously fourth in hot bumper at Cheltenham), and Clondaw Anchor (impressive winner at Carlisle) is a mile better return than quite a few of his rivals who have been price up half his odds here this afternoon. On pure ability and potential alone, there’s no way he should be chalked up a 33-1 chance in a race like this and he’s certainly one to keep on side further down the line if today doesn’t turn out to be the day.

TRADE TALKS (best price 9-1) caught the eye with the way stayed on from the back of the field in a hot maiden on the figures here last time out and off what appears to be a workable opening assessment of 72, the son of Cacique has a fair chance of being competitive on handicap debut. 50-1 when on a keeping-on fifth over the same C&D previously, Chris Wall’s three-year-old again did some nice work late when unfancied back at the Dunstall Park venue 16 days ago, but considering the winner was knocking out unbelievable fractions for a maiden, there’s no way he could have finished any closer from where he was coming out of the back straight. Looking at his final circuit sectionals in isolation and there certainly compare favourably with the numbers normally associated with a race similar to today’s and for that reason, the lightly-raced gelding is worth a small shy at the stumps to see what he can achieve in his new discipline.