Andy Holding's Monday Racing Tips

MOTAWAAJED (NAP) (best price 7-2) shaped with an immense amount of promise on his debut at Newcastle a month ago and with just normal improvement, he should easily be capable of making a larger impact on the final outcome this time around.

Relatively easy to back at the Gosforth Park track, William Haggas’ didn’t improve his odds by being slowly out of the gates, but by halfway, he gradually worked himself into a position where he could develop a challenge towards the backend. However, the combination of those early exertions and lack of experience told in the final analysis and he could only keep on at the one speed as the winner, Great King, skipped away from the field. Looking at the time figure of the race in question and subsequent form of those involved in the finish (second and third won since), and it’s clear it was an above-average event for the race type and providing he can break with a little more urgency on this occasion, the son of Dark Angel can prove his morning odds are all wrong. 

YOUNGNEDOFTHEHILL (best price 7-1) may be not far off drawing his pension, but based on his recent exploits, he’s not ready for his pipe and slippers just yet and the 13yo is fancied to prove that point again at a track where his stats when completing read 322221. 

Clearly a horse who thrives on his racing, the son of King’s Theatre showed his appetite for the game remains as strong as ever when scoring at Navan three starts ago and although he hasn’t managed to trouble the judge in two starts since, he did catch the eye with the way he finished off his race in a competitive event at Punchestown on his latest start. A proper hold up performer who likes to be delivered late, he will always be a hostage to fortune in the way a race develops, but as the ground is likely to be testing here tonight, there’s a decent chance the race will fall apart in the latter stages and that’s the point where Shane Nolan’s inmate can pounce.