Andy Holding's Monday Racing Tips

JERANDME (NAP) (best price 7-2) probably got beat by a useful mare in the shape of Royal Illusion at Leopardstown on the Flat the other night, but he certainly lost nothing in defeat and he can make a big impact now racing back over hurdles over a trip that should suit.

A dual bumper winner, Noel Meade’s gelding made a bright start to life in his new discipline when running out a game scorer of a maiden hurdle at Roscommon back last month and given how strong he was in the latter stages of that 2m5f contest, an extra three-furlongs he encounters this evening should hold no fears. Undone by the slow gallop and sprint to the line off the home bend at the Dublin track four days ago, he still impressed by the way he stuck to his task and the fact that he arrives here the fittest horse in the field courtesy of that recent run could count for plenty in the final analysis.

DIAMOND DOUGAL (best price 15-2) can often be relied upon to run his race in races such as tonight’s and he rates the value each-way call at the early morning prices.

Proving his suitability to tonight’s C&D when winning first time off the bat on his seasonal return, Mick Channon’s gelding went on to run another solid race in a similar event at Ripon next time out. Although no match for the impressive winner, Reputation, that day, his speed figure in defeat worked out as such that he managed to post one of his best performances on the figures. Slightly undone by very testing ground on his last two starts, tonight’s conditions - just on the easy side of good - should prove more favourable and from a draw close to the fence and where all the early pace should be generated, the four-year-old makes quite a bit of appeal.

NEARLY NAMA’D (best price 8-1) hasn’t always been the most consistent of characters, but there’s no denying he’s useful on a going day and that proved to be the case at Listowel last time out and with the cheekpieces on once again, Augustine Leahy’s mercurial 11-year-old is given the tentative vote to see whether he can engage overdrive for the second time in a row.

Winner of a valuable 45k pot at Fairyhouse back in 2016, the son of Millenary had only managed one success since, but with the new headgear on for the first time at the Co Kerry venue two weeks ago, he rolled back the years with a display of some authority and class. Always moving well in the hands of Luke Dempsey, the veteran took up the running with a smooth jump at the second last and despite just pulling himself up slightly on the run-in, he went on to score with more in hand than the official margin suggested. A previous C&D winner who thrives on a strongly-run environment, he has plenty in his favour to put up a bold show.