Andy Holding's Monday Racing Tips

NAMIB DANCER (best price 4-1) was hugely unlucky not to make a winning hurdles debut at Wincanton last time out and he rates a confident choice to gain compensation in this similar contest.

Having shaped really well in a useful bumper on his final start last season, hope was high that Emma Lavelle’s gelding could carry forward that potential into this campaign and based on what happened at the West Country venue, there’s should be plenty of productivity forthcoming. Having travelled well throughout, the four-year-old sauntered in to the lead pulling a cart going down to the last, but unfortunately, he wandered around approaching the flight and totally misjudged his take off. Ploughing through the obstacles, the son of Westerner ended up landing back legs first and, as a result, he lost upwards of five lengths and any momentum he may have had at that juncture. Although he no time to recover, it was noticeable that he had sufficient reserves of energy to rally and gain a creditable runner-up spot when it looked for all the world as though he was going to finish fourth, so providing he’s suffered no ill effects from that untimely blunder, he can right the wrongs of that total injustice 29 days ago.

A strong case can be made for a good handful in this competitive EBF qualifier and of those to the fore in the market, HOMETOWN BOY (best price 4-1) receives the vote to come out on top.

Winner of a maiden point-to-point in Ireland, Stuart Edmunds’ inmate made a promising rules debut in a bumper at Warwick a month ago and followed that up by running with great credit on his hurdling bow back at the same track 17 days ago. Racing a bit keen through the early stages, the son of Curtain Time did, however, keep on quite strongly towards the backend despite expending valuable energy and his performer had to be marked up accordingly. Moreover, the time figure of the front pair, the winner Espoir De Romay and the very highly-regarded runner-up West Cork, suggested it was an above-average race for the track, so that metre fact that he managed to stay within range of these promising types augurs well for the future. Having landed that point over three miles on heavy ground, it’s logical to think that today’s step up in trip under fairly testing conditions by the track standards will suit and the four-year-old rates the solid each-way alternative to the favourite, Hurricane Harvey, who is unproven on ground worse than good-to-soft.

DOCTOR DEX (NAP) (best price 2-1) made a bright start to life as a chaser with a convincing victory at Ascot at the beginning of the month and providing he’s come out of that race with flying colours and can run to a similar level here this afternoon, he’s strongly fancied to repeat the dose.

A smart novice hurdler from last season, Tom George’s gelding ran with great credit despite not troubling the judge in two big handicaps at Cheltenham and Aintree, but that was surely only a precursor as to what lay ahead over fences. Well-backed to make the most of what appeared a fair handicap mark of 126, the son of Presenting always looked in control at the Berkshire track, and with a couple of solid jumps when he needed them most towards the backend, he beat a decent field with a bit up his sleeve. Moreover, his final lap sectionals came out better than the other two chase races on the card won by Diego Du Charmil (2m1f) and Vinndication (3m), so based on those findings, not even a rise in the ratings should be sufficient enough to stop him going in again around a track that seems likely to suit.