Andy Holding's Monday Racing Tips

ENIGMATIC (best price 7-1) was a bit disappointing on his first outing of the season, but there was a straightforward answer to explain why he ran below par and he’s fancied to back up the theory now racing at a track where he produced one of his career-high performances.

As the record books will tell you, front runners are usually eaten alive over Ascot’s straight course, so once Joseph Parr’s gelding threw his cap in the ring for that early role at the Berkshire venue a month ago, there was only going to be one result. What made even less sense was the fact this seven-year-old is more often than not slowly away and held up towards the rear for a late run, as he was when he scored over today’s C&D last August and on his final start of the campaign at Kempton. With that in mind, hopefully, connections will revert to those race-winning tactics again here this afternoon and if so, the son of Elandim can outrun his morning odds.
 

Given ROYAL DYNASTY (best price 8-1) was previously 0-5 on turf, it came as no real surprise to see her disappoint at Nottingham last time out, but that is partly the reason why she has been slightly, and unduly, overlooked for today’s race at a track where her career record over the C&D reads 111. 

Her first victory at the Essex venue came when she made all for a narrow-margin success last February and she duplicated that feat with similar tactics a month later. Missing the break and giving herself plenty to do on her latest visit following a 206-day break, the daughter of Charm Spirit fought back against all the odds to claim the prize in the dying strides and that success at least offers up plenty of flexibility regards tactics here this afternoon. Now knowing she doesn’t have to lead necessarily will provide connections with plenty of options and with Highfield Princess likely to assume that role in any case, a patient, stalking ride from just off the pace might just lead to maximum rewards.
 

Both MISS MYERS (best price 11-1) and MK DRAMA (best price 11-1) have to prove themselves over the trip, but they each shape like they have the potential to do so and they are taken against the field to prove that viewpoint correct.

The former has just the one win next to her name, so she clearly isn’t one for maximum stakes, but given the way she finished off her race in a much tougher contest than today’s at the Curragh last time out, she has to come into the conversation at the very least. Prior to that sound and eye-catching effort, the daughter of Zoffany came home really well from the back of the field to finish a never-nearer fifth in a well-run affair over a mile and with the hood retained which clearly worked last time, she makes a reasonable amount of each-way appeal.

The latter ran a similar race in the same contest won by Soaring Monarch last time out and it was another performance which strongly suggests she’s not far away from gaining to due rewards for her consistency. Paul Flynn’s mare was also extremely unlucky to not land her previous start at Gowran when she got no sort of run inside the last two furlongs and given the way she’s been finishing off her races, she looks well worth a try over today’s 1m2f journey.

LOINGSEOIR (best price 5-2) has been a frustrating character at times, good one day and inexplicably poor the next, but he seemed to really click for Annalise Cullen at Fairyhouse on Friday and the pair are taken to continue their productive association. 

Often a strong traveller in his races, Michael Grassick’s gelding more often than not has flattered to deceive but as he showed in spectacular fashion the other day, he’s pretty useful when everything clicks into gear. Held up towards the rear at the Co Meath venue, the five-year-old made smooth progress to loom up with a strong-looking challenge two out and from that point, he found a ready turn of foot to pull six lengths clear of his toiling rivals. Not only did he post the fastest overall time figure on the card, his final three furlongs split was only bettered by the six-furlong sprinters, which is pretty amazing for a horse rated 63 running over 1m2f. Whether he has the inclination to go and produce a similar effort is open to debate, but as we can see by those numbers from Friday, the ability is there by the bucket load.