Andy Holding's Monday Racing Tips

SOLENT GATEWAY (NAP) (best price 6-4) has done precious little wrong in both his two starts so far to date and he looks poised to take advantage of his overall experience and vital track knowledge on his third attempt. 

Tom Dascombe’s colt began life in encouraging fashion when a keeping-on second to the well-regarded Et Tu Brute (runner-up to the useful Jadwal since) at Chepstow on his debut and even though he couldn’t quite better the same finishing position on his latest encounter over today’s C&D, his performance levels certainly increased. Showing bright all-round speed from the start, the son of Awtaad went through the race with plenty of purpose and although he stayed on strongly all the way to the line, he didn’t quite have the turn of foot exhibited by the winner, Rhythm Master, who looked every inch a very smart recruit. Indeed, the Richard Fahey trained colt knocked out the sort of numbers to strongly suggest he’s a pattern-race performer in the making and with the well-beaten fourth, Cairn Island, going on to boost the form with a smooth victory at Ayr last week, the race in question at the Merseyside venue is beginning to take shape. Based on his own figures here 17 days ago, he looks a strong galloper at the trip (hasn’t really got a turn of foot), so one would imagine that Richard Kingscote will jump out from stall four and go hard down the middle of the track and make life extremely uncomfortable for those trying to chase him. 

Frenetic looks a worthy favourite on form based on her recent effort when runner-up in a Group 2 at the Curragh, but today’s contest looks equally as challenging in so many different ways and she’s worth taking on with MEASURE OF MAGIC (best price 3-1), whose strands of form tie in neatly with the favourite. 

Similarly to the Ger Lyons-trained filly, the daughter of Kodi Bear has locked horns with Aloha Star already this season, coming out on top in an above-average fillies’ contest at Tipperary back in June, and with the time figure of that race at the Limerick Junction track suggesting we were dealing with potential pattern race horses for the future, it has come as no surprise to see the race develop along those lines. Indeed, Johnny Murtagh’s filly did her own bit for the form when scoring at Down Royal last time out and it was a performance worth upgrading as she not only had to show bright speed to hold her early position from an outside draw, she had to dig deep when the rail-hugging Miss Amulet through down a potent challenge inside the final furlong. The way she hit the line, however, suggested she’d got plenty left in reserved if required and with today’s likely strong pace giving her license to sit just behind the pace, her high cruising speed and turn of foot at the business can prove the crucial factor.

ZEFFERINO (best price 10-1) shaped better than his finishing position suggested at Newbury last time out and, with that performance strongly indicating he’s approaching the sort of form which saw him win three races without a short space of time a year ago, Martin Bosley’s gelding is worth a pop at a big price to shake up some of the better-fancied runners.

A horse who is often slowly away, the son of Frankel’s run-style was seen to good effect at Bath and at Chelmsford twice after a bit of mid-summer break and although his form tapered off to degree on his final two starts, he was probably feeling the effects of four bit performances off the reel when taking on better class rivals. Making an encouraging start to his new campaign after a 200-day layoff at the Essex venue, the six-year-old built on that initial outing with an eye-catching display back on turf two weeks ago and now racing over a track for the first time which often plays into the hands of those ridden with a degree of patience, he can pick up the pieces late on.