Andy Holding's Monday Racing Tips

LORD DU MESNIL’s (NAP) (best price 11-4) run style proved an immediate hit over a track that complements bold-jumping, front runners and providing he can get into a similar rhythm up front on his return visit, Richard Hobson’s gelding can make a bold bid to complete the hat trick.

Impressing with his game attitude when scoring at Newcastle the time before, the son of Saint Des Saints was a popular choice to repeat the dose on his first attempt at the Merseyside venue nine days ago and he ended up being an even more decisive winner. Setting off a good pace, the six-year-old kept up a relentless gallop that proved too much for his eight opponents and in the end he could afford the luxury of being eased down in the closing stages. Hopefully, the foot that was taken off the gas in the final half a mile will have kept him relatively fresh for today’s assignment over three furlongs further and providing he doesn’t get embroiled in a tactical joust for the lead with the other potential front runner, Thomas Patrick, he’s likely to take all the beating.

The combination of lack of match fitness and the minimum trip just caught out THE CON MAN (best price 11-4) on his seasonal reappearance here at the beginning of the month and he’s fancied to go one place better with that all-important run under his belt on his return visit.

A winner of a point-to-point, Donald McCain’s gelding seemed well suited by a fair test in heavy ground when making a successful rules debut over 2m4f at Carlisle last season, so it came as a little bit of a surprise that he was asked to drop down a full half-a-mile here 26 days ago. That said, the son of Oscar made a bold fist of it by chasing home the race-fit Marie’s Rock, who just basically did him for a turn of foot on the run-in and that effort has to go down as a decent return on his first outing for the thick end of a year. Clearly not too badly treated based on that performance, today’s trip and ground should prove more suitable and he can continue his progression despite being up against several similar types who also have plenty more to offer – Jelski and Flinck being the main two from that category.