Andy Holding's Monday Racing Tips

The two four-year-olds, HANNON (NAP) (best price 9-4) and Lethal Steps remain two promising types over hurdles and the former receives the confident vote to keep his stock at a fairly high level. Unlucky not to land a Grade 2 contest at Navan as a juvenile last season, John McConnell’s gelding proved no match for the very best in the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, but the mere fact connections allowed him to have a crack at a race of that nature proves the regard he’s held at his Stamullen base. Returning to action after a 72-day break on the Flat at Bellewstown two weeks ago, the son of Canford Cliffs ran perfectly respectably against two race-fit and in-form performers and with that run likely to have put an edge on his conditioning, he’s fancied to capture this prize before heading to the Galway Festival.

Not a particularly strong maiden hurdle by any stretch of the imagination and it’s a race well within the capabilities of WOOSTER (best price 13-2) Not a bad 83-rated performer on the Flat, Noel Kelly’s gelding has yet to translate that ability over to hurdles, in the sense he hasn’t won yet, but he’s run some noticeable races in defeat, including on his last two starts. A creditable runner-up in a well-run handicap at Kilbeggan a month ago, the five-year-old may have disappointed a few on his latest outing over today’s C&D, but there were mitigating circumstances why he never landed a meaningful blow. In a race where the front three got loose on the lead, the son of Duke Of Marmalade was set an almost impossible task being held up right out the back of the field and even though he tried his level best to work his way into a challenging position, the best he could achieve was a never-nearer fourth. Although his run style suggests he’s always likely to be ridden chilly from the back of the pack, hopefully today’s small field and overall lack of quality numerically will mean that he’s a little closer to the pace, and if that does prove to be the case, there’s no reason why he won’t be a big player towards the backend of the contest. Guttural rates the obvious danger based on recent form, but Construct was well beaten on the Flat recently and hasn’t run over hurdles and up to now, Empire Burleque doesn’t look anywhere near the horse connections would have hoped for after winning two point-to-points.

Canadian Steel has to be respected if turned out quickly after yesterday’s Sligo escapades, but either way, he may have a task on his hands trying to cope with top weight KING OF ARAN (best price 4-1) who has a terrific record around today’s track. Despite his advancing years, the 12-year-old remains in great heart and his victory over the C&D back in May was his third one in succession at the Co Down venue. Always moving well that day, the Val Royal gelding stayed on in typically determined fashion late on to score with quite a bit in hand and on the evidence of his last two outings in competitive handicaps on the Flat, he looks primed to serve it up again at his happy hunting ground under ideal conditions.