Andy Holding's Monday Racing Tips

Not only has HELVIC DREAM (NAP) (best price 13-8) got plenty of experience, but he’s also proven under tonight’s conditions courtesy of a C&D win last time out and he’s comfortably expected to follow up despite facing several useful juveniles.

Third on his first two starts, including to subsequent winner Raven’s Cry at the Galway Festival, the son of Power needed no second invitation to take advantage of what looked a presentable opportunity here two weeks ago and there was also plenty of substance attached to his winning effort. Niggled along turning into straight, Noel Meade’s inmate took a furlong or so to find top stride but once in his quicker paces towards the backend of the contest, he simply proved too strong for his seven rivals in the uphill climb to the line. Noticeably, he managed to post the fastest final three-furlong split time on the seven-race card which suggests he covers quite a lot of ground for a two-year-old and providing he’s within striking distance of the leaders at the same point this evening, the result has every chance of being the same.

Desert Point has really upped his game since beaten in a claimer on the Flat at Catterick a month ago with two easy wins over hurdles, but despite his obvious claims and morning odds, this won’t be no pushover up against the in-form PRANCING OSCAR (best price 4-1).

Only rated 54 on the Flat, Ben Haslam’s gelding has already shown a useful level of form on his two starts over hurdles and following a promising effort on debut at Stratford behind the smart Some Day Soon and subsequent winner Ruthless Article, he didn’t waste too much time in getting off the mark. Although there were only three opponents at Fontwell 11 days ago, the previous winner Archimento ensured it was a good gallop and that seemed to really suit the son of Sir Prancealot as he came cruising through to pick up the running two out before going on to record an easy success. Posting useful figures both overall and throughout the final circuit, the five-year-old looks to have been given a more than workable opening handicap mark of 117 and providing the ground stays on the fast side (small quantities of rain forecast later in the day), he should be capable of giving the favourite plenty to think about. On another front, he also looks worth considering in the without the favourite market as Green Zone is 0-5 at today’s track and the other one of his main markets rivals, Capitoul, only scrambled home in a seller last time out.

Without a shadow of doubt Gavin Cromwell is right up there with some of the best dual-purpose trainers in the land and his ever-increasing reputation can be further boosted if he can work the oracle with BIANCA MINOLA (best price 14-1), who finally has her optimum conditions.

Formerly with Richard O’Brien, the daughter of Shakespearian had her first run for new connections after a 52-day break at Ballinrobe back in July and although she failed to trouble the judge, her performance wasn’t entirely without promise. Beaten just five lengths on unsuitably quick ground at Downpatrick last time out, the five-year-old mare should turn out to be a totally different proposition under tonight’s prevailing conditions as her form figures of 21113 on soft or heavy ground testify. Indeed, her latest performance on a really testing surface was when she finished a creditable third to the very smart Onlyhuman at Limerick back in April and a repeat of that level of form should easily see her outrun her morning odds.