Andy Holding's Monday Racing Tips

By far and away the best race on the card and despite having no hurdling experience, DELVINO (best price 6-1) is fancied to make her presence felt on her seasonal bow.

The daughter of Dylan Thomas made her debut in a bumper at Navan last February and having travelled strongly throughout she only succumbed to the smart Julies Stowaway in the climb to the line. With the time figure very good and the highly-regarded Ballyadam back in third, it was no surprise, therefore, to see her sent off odds-on to back up the impression she created at the Co Neath venue next time at Down Royal and although the horrible conditions meant it was never going to be an absolute cakewalk, she showed her undoubted class in getting the job done. Not seen out for 272 days, it will be interesting to see how strong Dermot McLoughlin’s mare is in the market, but providing there’s a fair amount of support in her direction, confidence is high she can hold her own against several similarly highly-regarded performers from her own sex.

UNOHU (NAP) (best price 6-4) has looked a novice of some promise on both his two starts over hurdles and having already proven his effectiveness over today’s course last time out, he rates a confident choice to keep his name in lights on handicap debut.

Not quite good enough to cope with the smart Shakem Up’Arry on his hurdling debut at Ffos Las, he did more than enough, however, to suggest he had the equipment to win plenty of races in the future and we didn’t have to wait too long for that theory to be realised as he duly obliged on his very next outing. Sent up to the Scottish venue two weeks ago, Tom Lacey’s gelding was heavily supported in the pre-race market and at no moment did he ever look like not winning. Always in total control, the powerful son of Kayf Tara made short work of his nine rivals and with the most encouraging aspect of his performance being how strong he was once asked to stretch out on the run-in, it all bodes well for him stepping up in trip back at the same venue this afternoon.

As ever, Willie Mullins is man everyone has to fear in bumpers of this nature so his Take Tea has to be greatly respected, but MI LIGHTHOUSE (best price 9-2) did more than enough on her debut to suggested she shouldn’t have too much of an inferiority complex and she makes plenty of sense as the each-way alternative to the short-price favourite.

Well-touted before her debut at Wexford two months ago, it looked like the plunge was sure to come off as she travelled as sweet as a nut throughout but in the end, she didn’t pick up as well as the front two in the closing stages and she had to settle for a minor berth. For a bumper at a fairly low level, the time figure suggested it might have been a decent race for the track standards and with the runner-up going on to endorse the form with a win at Limerick next time, there is at least some solid substance attached to the data. Sure to have benefitted both physically and mentally for the outing, the daughter of Arctic Cosmos hails from a stable who have a fine strike rate in races of this nature (5-17) in recent times, and with the tongue-tie for the first time added to prevent any possible breathing issues, she makes plenty of appeal at the morning odds.