Monday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

The race won by Perseus Way at Newbury last month has begun to take shape, as the time figure suggested it might, and both FURTHER MEASURE (best price 17/2) and CARP KID (best price 17/2) appear to have bright claims of representing that solid handicap with distinction in this similar-looking contest.

The former was having his first run for 252 days at the Berkshire venue, so fitness was always going to come under the microscope and even though that view beforehand reared its ugly head in the final analysis, it was only the last half a furlong when he eventually waved the white flag. Other than his legs buckling late on, the way he travelled through the majority of the race suggested he doesn’t look a badly treated horse and with the strong possibility of Sylvester Kirk’s inmate being sharper for that initial run, a big run is anticipated.

The latter has been out since catching the eye in the same race and it almost resulted in John Flint’s gelding getting back on the scoresheet. Only narrowly denied by the in-form Good Birthday at Goodwood 19 days ago, he returns to a track where he’s enjoyed quite a bit of success in the past and hailing from a yard whose had three winners from their last ten runners, the son of Lope De Vega can go close to adding to the recent list.

APOLOGISE (best price 6/1) hasn’t produced anything spectacular on the figures as of yet, but with the latest of his three runs over today’s track catching the eye in many ways, Andrew Slattery’s gelding can go a long way to justifying his opening mark of 62.

A promising seventh in a race at Roscommon which has produced multiple winners since, the son of Fascinating Rock was surprisingly dropped back in trip for his latest adventure here last time out and based on the way he was handled that day, it’s easy to come to the conclusion it was all part of the process of getting him handicapped. Doing all his best work at the finish without being unduly punished, the scopey three-year-old left the impression he would be a totally different proposition over further and with connections spotting a decent opportunity back at the Co Kerry venue to back up that theory, he rates the most interesting contender in today’s line-up.

ABDUCTION (best price 7/2) clocked a big number when seemingly scoring with plenty in hand at Ayr last time out and with a couple of placed efforts over today’s track lending weight to the theory he’s just as effective elsewhere, Jim Goldie’s gelding can complete his hat trick.

A game winner at the Western meeting on his first start since leaving Grant Tuer, the four-year-old was given a slightly different ride in terms of tactics when returning to the same C&D ten days ago, but as it turned out, the end product was far easier on the eye. The way he cruised along before breezing by his rivals for comfortable success was a sign of a horse right on top of his game and then when you add to the mix his speed figure, the emphasis on his performance gets heightened.

Drawn out on the wing today, Paul Mulrennan will probably have to take back and ride his mount similarly to last time, but in a race where there shouldn’t be any hanging around, hopefully he can come through strongly again at the business end.

RORY (best price 9/2) isn’t one to side with if you have a dodgy ticker, but if you are prepared to roll the dice on a horse who has a habit of finding trouble in running, Jim Goldie’s gelding is worth a small interest knowing he has the ability to win a race of today’s nature with a clear run.

A winner at Newcastle three starts ago, the son of Orientor has suffered a tale of woe on his two subsequent outings, on both occasions seemingly full of running when getting blocked at a crucial stage. What happened to him back at the Gosforth Park venue last time out made a Greek tragedy look like a pantomime in comparison and even though there’s always the strong possibility of the same fate awaiting him here today, there’s also a strong sense he could just as easily win this with a clear passage.

Both PERIPETEIA (best price 5/1) and CICELY (best price 7/1) caught the eye for same reasons in a similar race here last week and with each set of contentions coming to the conclusions may require further to be seen in a better light, the pair are worth playing against the field.

The former came home slightly better of the pair in a race run at modest fractions and considering she was also a little short of room rounding the home bend, it was altogether an eye-catching effort. A dual winner over 1m2f, she has run with credit over further and with today’s contest well within her compass based on her performance here the other night, hope is high she can make amends.

The latter also did all her best work at the finish from a similarly unpromising position nine days ago and in doing so, it went along way to back up all her previous runs at the Dunstall Park venue. A three-time winner over the extended 1m1f journey, she now looks ready for a step up in trip and with the daughter of The Gurkha having gone well for today’s pilot in the past, the combination look set for another big bid.