Andy Holding's Monday Racing Tips

GET A TONIC (NAP) (best price 2-1) and Credo met in a similar contest to today’s at Uttoxeter 17 days ago, with the former coming out on top, and even though there’s a strong possibility her old rival will have benefitted greatly from that initial outing, there’s also no reason why Dan Skelton’s mare won’t show similar improvement and thus uphold the form.

An Irish point winner just over a year ago, the daughter of Getaway was picked up by new connections for 33k and on the evidence of what we’ve seen of her so far, that purchase price doesn’t look like a bad investment. Placed on her first two starts last term, the five-year-old began her campaign by contesting what appeared a strong mares hurdle at the Midland venue and having gone well throughout, she stayed on nicely to finish a never-nearer second to the potentially smart Lady Adare. Likely to improve for that initial experience on all fronts, this scopey mare also has the potential to do even better over further than two miles and with connections wasting no time in exercising that theory here today, she rates the percentage call down the front end of the market.

ALBORKAN (best price 7-2) didn’t run too badly under the circumstances following a 182-day break at Plumpton last time out and with the numbers from that heat at the Sussex track strongly suggesting it wasn’t a bad race of its kind, Amy Murphy’s gelding should easily be capable of making some sort of impression in this slightly lower rating band.

A dual winner on the Flat, the son of Joshua Tree got off the mark on his third spin over hurdles last season, where the first-time hood clearly worked its magic, and even though he’s failed on both his two subsequent starts to add to his tally, each performance has come with its plus points. Indeed, his latest effort a month ago was easily his best effort based on the time figures and with the form of the race in question working out well with the second and third running well since, confidence is fairly high this lightly-raced four-year-old can follow suit.