Andy Holding's Monday Racing Tips

Back Rough Diamond and We'll Go Again at 10-3 and 8-1

A typically tricky puzzle to solve for a race of this nature at this time of year, but there’s a decent chance that both ROUGH DIAMOND (best price 10-3) and WE’LL GO AGAIN (best price 8-1) will play some sort of part in the final outcome if their latest performances are any guide. 

The former ran out an impressive winner over the six-furlongs trip at the Co Kildare venue on debut and, as a result, he was well punted to follow up in a tough handicap last time out. Unfortunately, for him and his supporters, he ran into the hugely-progressive Lustwon Baba, who just had far too much speed and quality for Edward Lynam’s gelding on the day, but as the winner went on to land a listed contest over the same C&D a week later (trashed Make A Challenge), it’s little wonder he struggled to give weight away to a pattern-race filly right on top of her game. Moreover, the son of Starspangledbanner was only having his second career start and lacked the experience of all his 14 rivals that day, but now stepping up to a trip likely to play into his strengths, he’s fancied to go well again at a track that clearly suits. 

The latter always seems to come good at this time of year when the ground changes and despite one poor run when reportedly coughing post-race, the same theme appears to be reoccurring with the Fast Company gelding. A ready winner on his first outing for new connections at Punchestown two months ago after a mini-break, Andrew Kinirons’ inmate did everything but win at Galway last week, coming from miles behind to get within a next of the well-backed winner, Teed Up. On the evidence of that display, the four-year-old appears to remain in rampant form and with the race in question good on the speed figures and the fourth home, Inn From The Cold, boosting the form at Navan yesterday, he deserves the utmost respect despite dropping back down a furlong.

Back Madame Tantzy at 15-2

No surprises for seeing a Sir Michael Stoute-trained horse a short-priced favourite in a handicap and while Lights On has to be respected, MADAME TANTZY (best price 15-2) makes far more appeal at the morning prices based on her overall body of work.

Racing in the first-time cheekpieces when last seen out at Newmarket, the daughter of Champs Elysees ran out an impressive winner of a decent-looking fillies’ only event and with the speed figure the fastest furlong-per-furlong time on the eight-race card, her performance deserves even more praise. The way she travelled before lengthening right away from her five rivals that day just showed how good she can be when on-song, so providing she remains in the same shape both mentally and physically 44 days on, a big run looks on the cards from Eve Johnson Houghton’s filly over a C&D she’s been successful in the past.

Back Grace To Grace and Molly Kaye at 13-2 and 11-1

The first race on the round track so it will be interesting to see how conditions fare compared to the straight course, but either way, it’s a contest in which both GRACE TO GRACE (best price 13-2) and MOLLY KAYE (best price 11-1) should feature based on the pick of their form.

The former goes particularly well at the Co Kildare venue and arrives here having been slightly unlucky in a similar race 18 days ago. Held up on the inside by Mikey Sheehy, the daughter of Big Bad Bob was about to be brought with what appeared to be a potent challenge as the field swept for home, but at that point, she got the door well and truly slammed in her face and, while the leading players had skipped away, she had to sit and suffer until a gap opened. Once out in the clear, Joseph O’Brien’s filly came home to such effect it’s easy to draw to the conclusion she would have been heavily involved in the finish and with conditions similar on her return visit, she’s fancied to gain some sort of compensation for her supporters (was sent of 7-2 favourite).

The latter doesn’t have the prettiest collection of form figures next to her name on the Flat in recent times, but it’s worth noting that she has been in much better nick over jumps and her latest success at Thurles over hurdles suggests she can make a bigger impact than her odds indicate if translating to same level of form back to this discipline. Interestingly, her last two performances were without her usual cheekpieces, so that might have something to do with her revival, but either way, she, along with her stable arrive here in cracking shape and with conditions to suit and housed in a favourable inside draw, she makes plenty of appeal from an each-way stance.

Back Ever Rock at 12-1

Back on the straight track for the concluding five-furlong sprint and who knows what part of the course will be favoured by that time, but providing the low drawn horses aren’t at too much of an inconvenience, EVER ROCK (best price 12-1) is expected to go close based on her effort at Navan last time out.

Up against similar opposition at the Co Meath venue 11 days ago, James Lambe’s filly got handed stall one for her troubles and as it turned out, being drawn over on the far side of the track turned into a poisoned chalice as all the winners that day came down the more favourable near side on the better ground. To end up finishing a creditable fourth, therefore, has to go down as a tremendous effort and based on the fact she doesn’t have too much to find with the winner that day, Teddy Boy, she looks overpriced compared to Edward Lynam’s gelding. Moreover, she’s drawn right next to where the early pace is likely to take develop (Pretty Boy Floyd and Glow Worm in stall 1 and 2 respectively) so with that in mind, she has to be worth a small each-way interest to keep her good run of form going in the right direction.