Andy Holding's Monday Racing Tips

LOOKFORARAINBOW (best price 5-1) has yet to win race in 12 starts, so he does come with slight risks attached, but at the same time there are reasons to believe that he’s not a total lost cause and he’s worth a small interest to see whether he can pop his nose in front here this afternoon.

You could take the view that Sarah Hollinshead’s gelding didn’t find as much as what appeared likely at Uttoxeter two starts ago, or it just could have been the case that he was outstayed by a much better horse. Noted travelling well on the run to the last at Bangor last on his latest outing, the six-year-old blew any chance of him winning with a bad mistake which caused him to slither on landing, but at least he dusted himself down to finish off his race well enough on the short run-in. On the evidence of these last two performances, he should have no trouble hitting the frame against this sort of opposition, it’s whether he has what it takes to finally grasp the nettle and go and win which is the sixty-four-thousand-dollar question.

ORVAR (best price 7-1) caught the eye with the way he finished off his race at York last time out and he’s taken to go close now racing back in Class 3 company.

As is par for the course, Paul Midgely’s gelding was tardily away on the Knavesmire, thus setting himself a task, but despite meeting a far-from trouble free passage inside the final two furlongs he rattled home to finish a never-nearer seventh. Based on that performance, it appears the son of Dandy Man is beginning to come to hand (came good in the second half of last season) and providing the Berkshire venue doesn’t get a complete deluge in the build up to the race, he looks poised to go better than his morning odds imply.

LYRICAL ATTRACTION (best price 11-2) ran out a thoroughly convincing winner of a competitive handicap at Cork recently and she’s fancied to keep up the good work while clearly in a positive frame of mind.

Fitted with the cheekpieces for the first time 19 days ago, Jarlath Fahey’s filly impressed by the way she travelled at the Co Mallow venue and then once getting an opening up the far rail, she quickened on demand to pull well clear of her toiling rivals (posted best sectionals of those racing on the round course that night). Prior to that improved effort, the three-year-old had been in consistent form throughout the all-weather campaign at Dundalk and now that she gone and proven that she’s equally effective on turf, it makes sense to stay with the in-form filly for the foreseeable future.