Andy Holding's Monday Racing Tips

SECOND COLLECTION (NAP) (best price 6-4) is on a bit of a roll at today’s track and in a race that won’t take a great deal of winning, it’s difficult to oppose Tony Carroll’s in-form sprinter. Although it took her a while to get her head in front, now she has found the winning habit she looks like she could go right through the ranks and her success here last time out suggests she had more in hand than even her new rating has allowed for. Coming from last to first in a short space of time, the daughter of Delegator ran the last two furlongs under the magic 23.0 barrier and with none of tonight’s rivals likely to be capable of that change of pace in the closing stages, she’s expected to complete her hat trick with the minimum of fuss.

MOKHALAD (best price 13-2) ran as well as could be expected over an inadequate trip at Tipperary the other night, but it least proved that he remains in cracking form and he’s fancied to go well again over a track that will play more into his strengths. Runner-up on his opening gambit this season in a competitive handicap at Navan, Damien English’s gelding got his just rewards for that effort with a deserved success over today’s C&D two weeks later. Showing admiral battling qualities when faced with a whole host of challengers up the hill that day, the son of Dubawi fended off a big field in game fashion and even though he failed in his bid to follow up at the Limerick Junction venue four days ago, he still managed to finish ahead of many well-fancied rivals over a very fast five furlongs. Back over his more-favoured six furlongs this evening and potentially well drawn in box four, the six-year-old looks primed for another bold challenge for glory.

Some promising and lightly-raced types open to plenty of improvement go to post in this hugely-competitive three-year-old handicap, but it might well be that one of the more exposed runners in the shape of CROCKFORD (best price 8-1) has the necessary requirements to cause a bit of a stir.

Although Joseph O’Brien’s colt has yet to win, he’s often left the impression it’s only a matter of time before he breaks his duck and that was certainly the case with his latest effort over today’s course 36 days ago. Dropped out by design due to his poor draw (16 of 16), the son of Camelot found himself well behind the main players as the field turned for home, but in producing a strong finish down the outside in the home straight, he somehow managed to rescue the situation to run on into a creditable third. Moreover, in doing so, the three-year-old ran the last furlongs in the fastest splits of anything on the entire card and when you consider those numbers bettered the likes of subsequent listed race winner Never No More (now rated 107), Irish Lincoln winner Karawaan (93) and Group 3 filly Normandel (99) it just shows what of performance this consistent colt posted. Sure to be suited by today’s extra furlong based on that display at the Co Kildare track, his better draw tonight in stall three should ensure he races closer up to the speed and knowing how well he came home the last day, there’s no reason why he won’t have a significant say in the final outcome.