Andy Holding's Monday Racing Tips

Meticulous sets a very high standard for a race of this nature with his two performances against high-class opponents setting him apart from his rivals here today, but the battle for minor honours are a little more complex and open and it could be worth chancing the MAKE GOOD (best price 11-2 without Meticulous) is good enough to get himself onto the podium if ridden in a fairly positive manner.

That certainly wasn’t the case with John McConnell’s gelding at Bellewstown on the Flat last time out as the he was noted making good late headway without being knocked about in the latter stages of a very competitive staying handicap. In keeping on for minimal pressure, the son of Fast Company still managed to finish a creditable fifth in a race which was noted for its very fast time figure for the grade and with the winner, second, third and sixth all going on to boost the form since, it’s little wonder he was a very warm order to do his own bit for the race in question at Killarney last week. Unfortunately for connections, the rain came in large enough quantities for him to miss the gig, but that means he arrives here able to go again on a better surface. Whether he will be fully effective back in a discipline which saw him only show a modicum of promise on his only start when trained in the UK only time will tell, but either way, he remains an extremely interesting project going forward either for today, or when he goes back on the level off his mark of 59. 

OVERHEER (best price 5-1) benefitted from a far more positive ride at Roscommon last time out than the one he received on his seasonal reappearance and similar tactics can hopefully reap rewards around a track where being up with the pace isn’t a bad policy.

Eye-catching on his first attempt in handicap company at Tipperary a month ago, Joseph Murphy’s gelding was well-supported to build on that promising display at the Lenebane venue and although he did pretty much everything right in his bid to justify his position in the market, he had the misfortune to bump into the resurgent Ally Cal who came from someway off the pace to nail him late on. That said, the son of Hearaat posted a big speed figure for the grade in defeat and with the winner, third and sixth all going on to boost the form since, this unexposed four-year-old has sound claims in his bid to finally shed his maiden tag.

Time may tell ARABIAN ROMANCE (NAP) (best price 5-2) probably got beaten by a fairly smart filly on debut at Yarmouth in the shape of Almareekh, but it was more than a satisfactory effort from a filly lacking experience, and that solid grounding should stand her in good stead when stepping foot on the Berkshire track tonight in what looks a race well within her capabilities. 

The first thing to mention about the race from the seaside venue 16 days ago was the extremely strong pace from the outset and the fact that Saeed Bin Suroor’s filly had no trouble holding her position, suggests she’s got plenty of natural talent. Unable to cope with the winner’s burst inside the final furlong, the daughter of No Nay Never kept on well enough to hold the rest at bay and with the overall time figure and backend sectionals all pointing towards her effort being one of a pretty high standard for a horse having her first taste of the action, she rates a very strong fancy to carry that level of form forward into tonight’s contest and beyond.