Andy Holding's Monday Racing Tips

COLDITZ CASTLE (best price 7-4) has been up against some pretty smart novices in his short career and he’s taken to finally get off the mark in a race seemingly well within his capabilities.

Third to the very useful Winston C in a hot novice hurdle at Wincanton back in January, Alan King’s gelding probably just found the ground softer than ideal when a five-length fourth behind Acey Milan at Plumpton next time out. Unlucky to bump into the progressive chasing type, Trevelyn’s Corn (ran in Grade 1 at Aintree next time) at Wincanton when last seen, the son of Getaway was put away in order to keep his novice status intact and with today’s conditions ideal, it would be disappointing if he doesn’t take advantage of this golden opportunity.

I AM SUPERMAN (NAP) (best price 9-4) made a very difficult task on paper beforehand looks fairly straightforward and as such, he’s strongly fancied to vindicate the impression that he’s a pattern horse in-waiting.

A smooth winner of his opening start of the season at Leopardstown despite being drawn in the car park (17 of 18), Michael O’Callaghan’s inmate was once again handed a coffin box stall position (15 of 15) when well-backed to repeat the dose in a much stronger contest at Naas seven days ago. Taking his time to steadily work his way across from his outside pitch, the son of Footstepsinthesand managed to poke his head in front as the field turned for home and despite having to use up plenty of energy to achieve that feat, he still had the quality to keep up a strong gallop all the way down the straight. Remorseless in the way he just kept pounding out the fractions, the scopey three-year-old left a good field trailing in his wake and on the evidence of that display, it was pretty clear that his days in handicap company were going to be a thing of the past. Although he’s dropping back down in trip today, he’s already shown that he’s got plenty of natural speed to cope and having also run well on his only previous attempt over the C&D, this easy-moving colt should take all the beating despite being up against some promising opponents.

HAND ON HEART (best price 14-1) had to be considered as a slightly unlucky loser on her seasonal return at Naas 43 days ago and even though today’s drop back in trip has to be a cause for concern, her price is big enough to override the slight negative.

A dual winner as a two-year-old, Fozzy Stack’s mare rather lost her way last season with two below-par performances in listed company, so it was good to see her bounce back to something like her best form with an altogether more believable effort at the Co Kildare venue. Had she obtained a clear run from three out when travelling better than anything else, the daughter of Mastercraftsman would have surely prevailed and she should turn out to be good enough to hold her own despite being up against several from the Classic generation that are well-fancied in the market.

SPECIAL ACCEPTANCE (best price 9-1) is still a maiden after seven starts, but he shown more than enough on several occasions to suggest there’s races to be won with him and today’s contest looks well within his compass based on his overall form and speed figures.

Not good enough for the likes of Brewin’Upastrom and Winston C in a hot novice event at Huntingdon in mid-winter, Paul Webber’s gelding improved significantly on that performance when runner-up in a weaker affair over the same C&D on month later. Unseating rider when likely to fill out the same position on his first outing in handicap company at Sandown next time, the son of Malinas once again played the role of the bridesmaid on his latest start at Fontwell (plugged on after making a bad mistake at the last), but being as the ground that day would have been softer than ideal, the position he filled at the Surrey venue was about as good as he could have expected. Of what we’ve seen of him so far to date, a sharp, right-handed track on decent ground seems to suit him best and with the reacquaintance of Gavin Sheehan coinciding with a return to a venue that last saw him finish a creditable fourth to the useful mare Epaulatte, the six-year-old gelding should be capable of running better than his odds suggest.