Andy Holding's Monday Racing Tips

A typical sprint handicap on the first day of the Irish turf season in the sense we have several coming off good all-weather campaigns clashing with many who are stretching their legs in public for the first time for a while and of those in the latter category that might upset the ones with a fitness edge, MOKHALAD (best price 11-2) and TRESORIER (best price 7-1) make the most appeal.

The former had a pretty productive campaign last season, a run of good results which began with a fine runner-up spot on his opening gambit at Navan, and it’s also significant that two of his three victories/best performances were achieved over today’s C&D. Landing a gamble when a gutsy winner here back in April was followed by an even smoother success again at the expense of the bookmakers later in the month and if it wasn’t for a terrible draw on his final outing of the campaign, Damian English’s gelding may have made it three. Also undone by a modest draw at Navan the time before, the son of Dubawi came out of that race at the Co Meath venue with great credit having swum against the tide from flag fall and safe with the knowledge that he’s the type that tends to go well fresh, he looks sure to go well at a track that clearly plays into his strengths.

The latter had to go down as an extremely unlucky loser on his final start of the season at Leopardstown and those with long and painful memories will be keen to unleash their frustrations on the layers after a long wait on the side lines. The way he travelled through that competitive affair at the Dublin venue hinted of a horse who appeared well handicapped, but with the assessor clearly not taking the same view having only raised John Feane’s inmate a solitary pound, he’s been handed a decent chance to prove those who do the sums wrong. An eye-catching eighth for old connections in this race last year, the six-year-old also highlighted his potential for races of this nature with a solid effort against the track bias at The Curragh on his penultimate start of the season and with a stiff six-furlongs on testing ground seemingly his optimum conditions, there’s every reason to expect a bold display despite his 149-day absence.

Some of the big, high-profile stables are represented in this competitive-looking three-year-old handicap, but it’s the runners from the smaller barn of Michael Mulvany that catch the eye at the prices here in the shape of THE KING OF KELLS (best price 10-1) and IN FROM THE COLD (best price 10-1).

The former arrives here following a sound effort on the all-weather just 10 days ago and that run should have had the desired effect to blow away the cobwebs. Twice a winner on the turf last season when the mud was flying, his time figures also suggest he’s always likely to run to a fair standard and, with today’s round track often favouring horse who like to race up with the speed, his attacking run-style should see him go close from his low draw.

The latter doesn’t have the luxury of a previous run under belt, but in a similar vein to his stable mate, he’s often gone well off a break and this reliable sort can also make his presence felt. The son of Alhebayeb hardly ever ran a bad race last season and, with three of his better performances coming over today’s course with ease underfoot, there’s every reason to expect another solid display. Indeed, his win over the C&D at the expense of the well-fancied Love Locket once again showed up his ability to grind out a result and, with conditions very much to his liking on his return visit, the likeable three-year-old looks worth a punt at his double-figure odds.

EVEN SO (NAP) (best price 6-4) rounded off her season in the style of a filly who could take high rank in plenty of high-profile pattern races this term and she’s strongly fancied to justify that belief on her return to action.

A massive eye-catcher first time out at Tipperary, Ger Lyons’ filly was heavily backed to vindicate the impression she created at the Limerick Junction venue and, having broken well to race handy early on, she never gave her supporters too many anxious moments. Impressing with the way she strode out in the closing stages 179 days ago, the daughter of Camelot strongly suggested she would be well-suited by middle distances in the future, but for now, today’s mile trip on heavy ground looks a decent starting point and it would be slightly disappointing if she didn’t come up to scratch despite her long absence.