Monday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

There’s a good chance Jackmeister Rudi remains well handicapped following his victory at Brighton last time, but he’s yet to race at today’s track whereas HOPE PROBE (best price 7-2) has the advantage of have pitched up three times here before – and that might just make the difference.

Third on his first start at the Welsh venue over six furlongs, Andi Brown’s gelding ran equally well over the minimum trip on his return visit and he went on to put his course knowledge to good use with a convincing and well-deserved success last time. Breaking better than he had done previously, the son of Gutaifan worked himself into a lovely position by the halfway stage and then with a daring manoeuvre at the furlong pole, he burst through a tight gap to win going away. Clearly handy enough over five and with back class over seven – and with cut in the ground – the four-year-old rates a strong each-way alternative to the favourite.

ADDOSH (NAP) (best price 13-8) has had one or two issues with her jumping in her short career over hurdles to date, but with today’s brush obstacles putting less emphasis on her slightly suspect technique, Stuart Edmonds’ filly can take advantage of this seemingly golden opportunity.

After scoring comfortably at Market Rasen last September, two falls and an unseat rather derailed her progress, but following a break to clear her mind and a wind operation, the daughter of The Gurkha bounced back with another success at Huntingdon six months later. Third when given too much to do in a decent handicap at Cheltenham next time, she filled out the same position in another useful handicap for the grade at Bangor on her latest outing, but with speed figure good and the winner going in again since, the form reads solid in context of today’s race. Likely to be given a patient ride towards the rear, the small field should mean she’s well within range to strike at the business end.

There’s a strong possibility DERRY LAD (best price 11-4) will have to encounter traffic issues if he is to repeat his latest victory at Sligo last time out, but with the likelihood the ground will be a little better out wide by the time they run the last, the son of Epaulette can keep up the fine recent run of his handler.

A comfortable winner on his final start last term, seemingly appreciating the step up in trip, Kevin Coleman’s inmate wasn’t seen to best advantage back over a mile on his next two starts, but it didn’t take long for the good vibes to return when upped it trip again 34 days ago. Towards the rear coming out of the back straight, the four-year-old impressed with the way he powered his way around the entire field to surge his way to the front over a furlong out and he only had to be kept up to his work to maintain his advantage. Looking at his numbers from the Cleveragh Road venue, it’s worth noting he managed to run the final circuit over second quicker than the 80-rated Entropy over the same C&D, so based on those findings, the lightly-raced gelding looks to have as fine chance of following up over a trip that should suit.

MR FUSTIC (best price 9-4) ran out tidy winner over tonight’s C&D when last seen in April and with the figures from that victory extremely useful for the grade, anything in the same ballpark from Andi Brown’s gelding should see him a big contender to repeat the dose.

Winless prior to arriving at the Dunstall Park venue 52 days ago, the four-year-old had to put behind him a rather disappointing performance at Lingfield but in what turned out to be a well-run race, he came up trumps in pretty taking fashion. Held up in the rear, he was produced with a potent challenge swinging off the home bend and with a relentless run all the way to the line, he worked his way clear of his toiling rivals. On the evidence of that display and his other notable effort at Lingfield back in March, he clearly goes well fresh, and while there are several in tonight’s line-up who are capable of running to a decent standard at this level on their day, none of them are likely to topple Mr Fustic at his best.