Monday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

SHEISHYBRID (best price 7/2) has been nothing short of a revelation since sent hurdling and being fitted with a tongue-tie and following easily her most notable victory so far to date at Down Royal last time out, her bandwagon is likely to show no sign of stopping despite the competitive nature of today’s contest.

Her winning spree began at Cork four starts ago when she landed a maiden hurdle, and since then she’s gone on to score in a handicap at Ballinrobe and back on the Flat two weeks later. Impressing with the way she went about her business at the Co Down venue 17 days ago, she took the scalp of many useful performers, including fair guide Peregrine Run, and with the strong likelihood she has scope for even further improvement off her current mark, Noel Meade’s filly receives the confident vote.

ACCOMPLISHED (best price 15/2) seemed much more at home over today’s trip that the two middle distances she attempted previously and with one of her strong points being her ability to travel well throughout her races, Ken Condon’s filly can get off the mark at the fifth time of asking. 

A big eye-catcher at Navan first time out this season over 1m5f, connections were clearly keen on persevering with the daughter of Mastercraftsman over that sort of trip, but as it turned out, on the evidence of what happened to her in the closing stages of a similar race at Galway, it was time for a rethink. Tried at seven-furlongs for her latest assignment, the way she went through the race at Gowran showcased her talents in a much better light and with a favourable draw right next to the favourite here today, the lightly-raced three-year-old will have every chance of keeping tabs on her main rival. 

ROCKY DREAMS (best price 3/1) ran really well at The Curragh last time considering the minimum trip was nowhere near a stiff enough test, but now up a furlong and racing off a mark that would have almost been inconceivable when at the peak of his powers six months ago, Denis Hogan’s gelding is fancied to make hay. 

A dual winner on the all-weather at Dundalk during the winter, the five-year-old has yet to add to that tally in three subsequent starts, but his instalment at the Co Kildare venue hinted that wouldn’t be the case for too long. Understandably outpaced and in the rear for a horse better known for his exploits over seven-furlongs, the son of Muhaarar came home with plenty of purpose from the halfway stage to finish a never-nearer sixth of 21 at the line, and with that effort going a long way to add weight to the theory the assessor was wrong to drop him 5lb in the interim, a big run is anticipated from his favourable low draw.