Monday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

MIDNIGHTREFLECTION (best price 2/1) looked to be running herself into form based on her previous outing over today’s C&D and with that effort going on to initiate a deserved victory at Doncaster next time, Ben Case’s mare can continue the good work now she’s in the zone.

Strong in the market beforehand, she picked up the running going best after the second last on Town Moor and once she went several lengths clear, it looked a case of how far she would win. As it turned out, she was ultimately made to battle by the persistent challenge of Lepashe inside the final furlong but in the end, she found the necessary reserves to hang on close home.

Often a horse who takes a while to come to herself, usually in the Spring, similar patterns seem to be appearing again this term and having run to a decent standard on her two starts over today’s track (a win and a second), there’s every reason to feel upbeat about her chance.

DOYANNIE (NAP) (best price 2/1) looked a mare right on top of her game when scoring with any amount in hand at Plumpton last time out and with the feature of that victory the way she seemed to travel kindly off a strong pace, Anthony Honeyball’s inmate is fancied to take advantage of another similarly run race here this afternoon (Rooster Cogburn likely to set a decent gallop).

Having run well on her previous visit to the Sussex venue, there was a good deal of confidence attached to her chance when returning to the same C&D a month later and as it turned out, the positive vibes were justified.

Seemingly never out of third gear 14 days ago, it’s almost impossible to quantify how much she had in hand, but with the general feeling it could have been a good deal more than the assessor suggested in the aftermath, she’s fancied to take this more competitive race in her stride.

BIRD FOR LIFE (best price 9/1) has become famous for her slow starts over the years, but even allowing for the amount of ground she gives away, it doesn’t stop her from being competitive at the business end and that should turn out to be the case on her return to one of her favourite venues.

By her standards, she actually wasn’t that badly away at Chelmsford last time out, but even so, her task still proved an impossible to overcome in what turned out to be a slowly run contest and she ended up having to settle for a minor role.

Seen to much better effect when the pace collapses off a strong gallop, the sight of Sociologist in the field should give the daughter of Delegator a decent target to aim at and providing she’s within range rounding the home turn, there’s a fair chance she can work herself into a challenging position late on. 

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