Andy Holding's Monday Racing Tips

Denis Hogan must be pinching himself at the moment trying to come to terms with the meteoric rise of Make A Challenge but on a much lower scale, NEVER RAINS (best price 16-1) could provide the Co Tipperary handler with more cheer in this 0-70 handicap.

Yet to run a bad race since joining new connections, the three-year-old filly ran out a convincing winner of a claimer over today’s C&D back in August and although she’s failed to add to her profit column in two runs since, her performances have still been fairly praiseworthy. Indeed, her latest effort at Navan, albeit beaten 13 lengths, came in a red-hot race on the figures, and it’s worth pointing out that she did claim some notable scalps in behind such as previous winners Tuamhain, Bellakris and Lady In Lavender. Having also gone well on her only previous visit to today’s Kilkenny venue and proved she can handle testing ground, she clearly has more in her favour than the market suggests and she should be backed accordingly.

Supporters of Harvest Bow are probably still in a state of shock after Noel Meade’s charge got caught on the post at Thurles the other day (touched 1.01 in running), and while she looks to have another decent opportunity of paper to make amends, she might find PASLEY (NAP) (best price 6/4) a proper thorn in the side.

Well-backed to make a winning handicap debut over today’s course last time out, the son of Camelot just didn’t have the sufficient tactical speed over the 1m1f trip to cope with the in-form Bigger And Better when it mattered most, but at the same time, he did keep on well enough late on to suggest that a step up in distance would suit in future. Bred to stay middle distances and beyond, today’s 1m6f journey should prove to be right up his street and providing he can keep tabs on his main market rival, who is sure to go a good gallop from the front again, Joseph O’Brien’s inmate can repay those who supported him down to 6-4 favouritism here 18 day ago.

Low grade stuff that won’t take a lot of winning and it’s a race well within the range of GUROOR (best price 3-1) based on his recent exploits. Just on the fringes of the action on his two previous starts, Marco Botti’s filly produced her best ever display at Kempton last time when finishing a creditable third behind the rapidly-improving Sandy Steve. Numbers-wise, that race at the Surrey track was a proper ball out of the park event for the grade and with the cheekpieces in operation again – which have seemed to work the trick lately – the daughter of Lope De Vega can finally get off the mark.