Monday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

LISSEN TO THE LADY (best price 9-2) was in particular good form this time last season when the ground dried out and with a penchant for today’s track also seen as a big plus, Sandy Forster’s mare makes a lot of sense from an each-way perspective. 

A little disappointing in the earlier part of the season, the daughter of Fame And Glory bounced back to something close to her best when victorious over today’s C&D two starts ago and that piece of form alone looks particularly strong in light of what the runner-up, Goodtimes Badtimes, has gone on to achieve since. No match for the front pair at Ayr last time, she did, however, keep on in her usual tenacious fashion from two out to suggest she remains in good form and with today’s track, trip and ground always likely to provide her with a renewed source of energy, the eight-year-old should give her connections and supporters a decent spin. Of the rest, Cosmic Outlaw looks to be one of the most intriguing contenders based on his promising efforts in two above-average novice events, one of which behind the very well-treated, Famous Bridge. He could easily turn out to be much better than his current mark of 108. 

SAINT ARVANS (best price 6-1) fared well up against a horse who ran a decent race in the Scottish Champion Hurdle on Saturday at Newcastle last time out and now returning to a track where his stats read 411, Maurice Barnes’ gelding rates a really solid each-way proposition back in Class 4 company. 
Other than one uncharacteristically poor run at Doncaster back in December 2021, the son of Motivator has a pretty consistent record over hurdles and his last three runs bear testimony to that fact. Third to the useful Mick Maestro at Catterick after a 66-day break two months ago, the seven-year-old filled out the same position behind Homme Public in a competitive contest at Newcastle and for his endeavours he ended up posting one of his better speed figures in recent times despite the 19-length defeat. Not quite in the same class as the winner at the Gosforth Park venue 16 days ago, the way he kept to his task in the latter stages suggested he’s still got plenty to offer going forward and with today’s extra test (two furlongs and 25yds) likely to see him in an even better light, Saint Arvans can add to his terrific record at the Borders venue.

TWO TEMPTING (NAP) (best price 11-4) has had the misfortune of bumping into two pretty smart colts in the shape of Noble Order and Kingmax of late, but he appears to have come out of those encounters with a reasonable handicap mark of 75 and he might just prove good enough if taking to the grass at the first time of asking. 

A big eye-catcher on his debut at Wolverhampton back in January, Johnathan Portman’s gelding was nibbled at in the market for his next start at Kempton and although he was never in a position to land the mini-gamble, he stayed on strongly enough in the closing stages to finish an honourable runner-up to an odds-on favourite with all the best form going into the contest. Sent back to the Sunbury track on his latest outing, the son of New Bay had no answer to the smart turn of foot exhibited by the winner, who has aspirations of taking his game into the big league later in the campaign, but he beat the rest by a fair margin, so it was by no means a backward step. By a sire who had plenty of notable success last season out of a dam who had similarly quality form on turf, the lightly-raced a reasonable proposition despite the race’s complexities.