Andy Holding's Monday Racing Tips

Briac never came off the bridle when scoring with plenty in hand at Ffos Las last week but today’s examination requires a totally different set of skills and he might not be the supposed good thing that he looks on paper. Moreover, he did fall on his only other start over fences, so at the prices, he readily passed over in favour of BEALLANDENDALL (best price 2-1). Although the 11-year-old himself failed to complete on his last start at Chepstow last time out, he’d shown a typically consistent and fair level of form prior to that tumble and a repeat of an of those performances would see him go close in a race of this nature. His run on his seasonal return, for instance, would be a at a level far removed from the standard most of today’s rivals compete on a regular basis and you only have to look down the field at the Welsh venue that day to find subsequent winners Sideways and I See You Well languishing well behind. Usually a strong traveller, the only possible negative would derive from the fact that Deborah Faulkner’s gelding does seem to save all his best form for Chepstow, but as today’s track has its own unique undulations, he should have the ability to adapt and be competitive.

UNBLINKING (best price 5-1) failed to rise to the occasion in a much tougher heat at Newbury last time out but at the same time, that surely couldn’t have been his true running and he’s afforded another chance to bounce back around a track that’s served him well in the past. A little keen and wide with no cover in the early stages at the Berkshire track, perhaps that expending of energy had a contributory factor to him failing to go with the main players in the back end of the race, but at least he didn’t completely throw in the towel as he kept on reasonably well to finish a respectable fifth. Impressive the time before over today’s C&D, hopefully a return to the Midland venue will induce a certain spark lacking 23 days ago as he still has the appearance of a potentially well-handicapped horse.

FLOOD DEFENCE (NAP) (best price 4-1) had to go down as a remarkably unlucky loser over tonight’s C&D last time out and she’s strongly fancied to make amends on her return to the Midland venue 26 days on. Noted travelling well as the field swung out of the back straight, the daughter of Harbour Watch got stopped in her run virtually all the way down the straight and given how well she went through the line once finally out in the clear close home, it’s easy to conclude she would have won with a considerable amount of ease with a smoother passage. Although she’s yet to win on the all-weather, there’s enough evidence to suggest she’s got all the right attributes to lay that ghost to rest and providing she gets a good pitch around the inside in the early stages and the gaps open at the right time, tonight’s experience should be a good deal more rewarding than the last one.