Andy Holding's Monday Racing Tips

NOTHIN TO ASK (best price 15-8) had the misfortune to bump into the rapidly-improving mare Get A Tonic at Uttoxeter last time out, but as the time figure proved, he easily bettered any of his previous achievements and somewhere in a similar ball park should see Fergal O’ Brien’s gelding go close to finally breaking his maiden tag.

A respectable fourth in a useful novices’ event at the same Midland venue previously, the son of Ask was quietly fancied to improve on his finishing position two months on and even though he couldn’t quite match the eventual winner late on, he still managed to pull well clear of the smart pair Blairgowrie and Tigerbythetail. Having proven himself that day to be a sound stayer at the 2m4f trip on soft ground, today’s examination should turn out to be nothing he can’t handle and hailing from a yard that still shows no signs of slowing down their relentless thirst for winners (last two bumpers runners both won yesterday), the six-year-old makes plenty of appeal.

By some way the best juvenile hurdle of the season run either side of the Irish Sea and even though the race may not contain an out-and-out superstar, SKYCUTTER (best price 6-1) has done more than enough in both his two races so far to date to warrant an interest at his morning odds.

Smart on the Flat back in his native France, the son of Scissor Kick has proved equally as good for current connections on these shores and his effort in the November Handicap was a fine end to a productive campaign. Sent hurdling a month ago, Phil Kirby’s gelding showed an immediate aptitude for hurdles when making all the running at Wetherby and he duly followed up at Musselburgh last time out, once again leading from start to finish. A little out to his right at the Yorkshire venue, the three-year-old can’t afford to give ground away at the very highest level, but the one thing in his favour based on his time figures is that he can clearly maintain a good lick over two miles (on soft ground) and that trait far outweighs the slight negatives he may have.

Rachel Blackmore and Henry De Bromhead will probably want to forget the trip over they had at Kempton yesterday but the partnership could easily bounce back in this Grade 1 courtesy of easy Cork winner, LARGY DEBUT (best price 9-4).

Up against one of last season’s best bumper horses in the shape of Kilcruit at the Mallow track, the son of Shirocco seemingly faced an almost impossible task up against a 1-14 poke on his hurdles debut, but as it turned out, he readily defied his position in the market. Setting out to make the running 22 days ago, the lightly-raced six-year-old didn’t hold back in the first mile of the contest and even though he was momentarily joined for the lead approaching the straight, he galloped on strongly all the way to the line to leave favourite backers in tears. Based on the clock, his performance carries enough clout to strongly suggest his effort was no fluke and with the likelihood of him obtaining a relatively easy time of things up front for the second time in a row, the chance for him to dictate from tape to wire will hopefully not be squandered.

HUMBLE GLORY (best price 3-1) shaped as though she needed a step back up in trip at Punchestown last time out and with today’s examination likely to be a proper test, Gordon Elliott’s mare is fancied to come through with flying colours.

A little disappointing when last tried over three miles – albeit she was asked to race around the swamp on the inside – the daughter of Fame And Glory has been seen to much better effect of late and her latest effort at the Co Kildare venue is testimony to her levels of improvement. In what turned out to be a truly-run affair 22 days ago, the six-year-old came home with a fair rattle to only just narrowly fail to get her head in front and when you consider the well beaten fourth and fifth have both gone to run blinders since, the form rates as strong as anything coming into today’s similar heat.

Tradition dictates that the winner of this sought-after prize has often gained valuable experience of racing around this demanding track in the past and the two who fit that criteria down to the ground this year are HOLD THAT TAUGHT (best price 11-1) and HIGHLAND HUNTER (best price 11-1).

Both met here last year in a hot novices chase eventually won by Ask Me Early (would have been favourite for this season’s renewal but for a recent schooling gallop) and the experience they gained should stand the pair good stead on their return to the Welsh track. Due to a last fence fall by the latter, the former came out the best of the pair and with the overall time figure of the race almost a year ago strongly suggesting it was a pretty hot one of its kind, it has come as no surprise to see the form work out well since. The winner, as we know, had been laid out for a tilt at this prize following two victories over hurdles, but without him in the line-up, Venetia Williams’ gelding commands the upmost respect. An easy winner of his only start to date this season, his preparation couldn’t have gone any sweeter and representing a yard who can do little wrong with their chasers at present, a bold effort looks on the cards off his light weight.

Highland Hunter has proven many times in the past that he’s no shrinking violet when it comes to slogging it out in the mud and he also arrives here on a high courtesy of a dead-heat with Deise Aba at Sandown earlier in the month. All in all, Paul Nicholls’ grey rates another strong candidate for top honours.

SEVENTEEN O FOUR (best price 3-1) ran a race far beyond market expectations here last time out and, in what appears to be a much weaker version on his return visit to the Welsh venue, David Pipe’s gelding can prove there was no fluke about his first effort over hurdles.

Sent off 150-1 23 days ago, the son of Gutaifan was up against the likes of highly-regarded trio Ree Okka, Complete Unknown and Last Royal and although he couldn’t quite match engines with the main players late in, he did more than enough to suggest there are races to be won with him further down the line. To highlight how well he ran, the time figure of the race was easily the best on the eight-race card and with the runner-up, plus the well-beaten fifth and sixth all boosting the form since, he would only have to run to a similar level to prove a major feature second time around.