Monday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

TIME MARCHES ON (best price 13/2) has yet to register a win in nine starts, but he does have a decent body of work in some quality handicaps against his name and a repeat of any one of his last two runs in particularly should see him bang on the scene in this slightly less taxing affair. 

Shaping as though he needed the run on his first start of the campaign back in October, James Motherwell’s gelding performed much better next time at Clonmel when only narrowly denied by the useful Robinstown and although he finished outside the money over today’s C&D on his latest start, it was an effort that suggested he was still going in the right direction.

In what looked an extremely competitive Pertmeps Qualifier on paper beforehand, the son of Scorpion was one of many who held every chance on the run down to the last, but whereas several picked up quite noticeably on the run-in, unfortunately he could only find the one pace. That said, it still wasn’t a bad effort from the six-year-old considering he was quite some way out of the handicap and now back at a level where he should feel a good deal more comfortable, he’s fancied to make a bigger impact. 

ZEALOT (NAP) (best price 15/8) just lost out in a bobbing finish on his first start for new connections at Southwell last week, but now returning to the scene of his best effort on the figures previously, Michael Appleby’s gelding can make amends and recoup losses. 

Picked up for 19k by his shrewd new outfit after showing decent promise several times for Eve Johnson Houghton, the son of Pivotal was fully expected to gain an instant return on their investment at the Midland venue three days ago, but having looking like his was going to justify heavy support for majority of the mile journey, he just lost out by the narrowest of margins. 

The way he rallied after being headed over a furlong out by main market rival Perfect Swiss suggested he may have just blown up before running on again and having shown a liking to today’s C&D based on his two performances on the clock here in the Autumn, the rangy four-year-old can justify the quick turnaround.