Andy Holding's Monday Racing Tips

LE HACHETTE (best price 9-2) did really well to win last time out over fences at Tramore considering her normal run style of making the running was severely compromised, so she has to be of major interest while clearly on good terms with herself back at one of her happy hunting grounds. 

Rousted along to try and hold her position as the tapes flew back at the Waterford venue, the daughter of Yeats didn’t manage to get to the front as planned and she ended up having to take her medicine and race towards the rear of the field. Sshe did, however, give herself every chance by keeping in touch with the main players and with a sweeping run down the outside approaching the last, she stayed on best of all to claim the spoils close home. In all fairness, John Ryan’s mare had been a little hit-and-miss up to that juncture, so it was good to see her regain the winning thread and with form figures around today’s tight, right-handed circuit reading 5122, she should good another good account if pinging the tapes and adopting her customary front-running role.

Ultimate Getaway probably should have completed a hat trick of bumper wins at Newton Abbot last time out, but his jockey on the day didn’t utilise his stamina enough and he remains a horse of some potential going forward. However, he is up against a horse in the shape of EL BORRACHO (NAP) (best price 15-8) who has the vital three runs over hurdles under his belt and with the latest of those performances coming via a win over today’s C&D, the percentage call is to go with the one with experience. 

Third on his opening gambit at the same Midland venue back in July, Oliver Greenall’s gelding had the misfortune to bump into the useful recruit Captain Tom Cat at Uttoxeter on his next start, but he still acquitted himself well by chasing him home to finish an honourable second. Well-backed to get the job done at the third time of asking when he returned to today’s venue 20 days ago, the five-year-old duly obliged, and with the time figure he achieved strongly suggesting he’s getting to grips with his new discipline in no uncertain terms, his levels of improvement he may not have stopped just yet. A strong traveller in his races, no doubt Henry Brooke will want to get his mount settled early on, and providing he comes through that task, there’s a decent chance he will put himself in with affair shout of replicating his latest victory when he showed a fair turn of foot after two out.

SONG OF THE ISLES (best price 7-2) proved she still remains in top shape despite getting beaten at Salisbury the other day and now racing back on ground which saw her victorious at Chepstow previously, Heather Main’s filly is fancied to take charge of this ordinary-looking affair.

A dual winner last season, the daughter of Tagula didn’t waste any time getting back in the groove when scoring on her second outing of the campaign and with the time figure of the race at the Welsh venue also boosted by Andaleep at the weekend, it was easy to see why connections raised her sights significantly last time out. Unable to quicken as well as the front two home as the temp increased, she did, however, hit the line pretty hard once finally engaging top gear and with today’s long pull from three out likely to play more into her strengths, she rates a fair each-way proposition at the morning prices – especially with some firms offering four places.