Monday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

MABRE (best price 4/1) just got worried out the argument close home by Saison D’Or at Southwell last time out but, with the post-race data revealing there was no shame in going under by a narrow margin at the Midland venue, David Evans’ inmate is fancied to strike back over a C&D he’s enjoyed a fair bit of success in the past.

Fairly easy to back in a competitive seven-furlong event despite winning over today’s C&D the time before, the son of Make Believe looked likely to brush aside his market unease given the way he travelled up to the head of the field, but no sooner had he struck the front, a late rally by the eventual winner proved a barrier he couldn’t quite overcome.

That said, the speed figure they both achieved in pulling well clear of the rest suggested the six-year-old had taken his game to another level and with the blinkers on again that seem to have been responsible for his recent upsurge in form, the grey gelding can continue in the same vein.

HITITI (NAP) (best price 13/8) arrives here right on top of his game courtesy of a smooth victory at Exeter last time out and with everything about that performance at the West Country track it was one of a well handicapped horse at present, Robert Walford’s gelding deserves to be played accordingly.

Having tested the water over fences during the early part of the campaign, that project was shelved in favour of coming back over hurdles a month ago and following two promising efforts to suggest he was coming nicely to the boil, the blue touch paper was finally lit 17 days ago.

In what turned out to be quite a strongly run race for the grade, the son of Great Pretender strode clear of his toiling rivals in pretty decisive fashion and it came as no real surprise to find he’d posted a career high performance on the numbers.

Following a similar path to this time last year when he struck twice in the early part of Spring, it looks as though the same trend could be forming with the six-year-old this campaign and with conditions, trip and track ideal for him to produce his best, there’s no reason to expect anything different here today.

JILLY COOPER’s (best price 5/1) recent form figures may suggest she’s going in the wrong direction but, with the speed figures saying the total opposite, Charlie Johnston’s filly can back up that view over a course where her C&D stats read 1213.

A convincing winner at the Dunstall Park track back in January, the daughter of Lope De Vega hasn’t managed to score since but, had she received the rub of the green in a couple of her defeats, it may have well been a different story.

Although she can’t be considered in anyway unfortunate at Southwell last time out, she actually ran a good deal better than the bare result suggests and with tonight’s small field and back against her own sex all seen as positive moves, the four-year-old can reward each-way support with those firms who offer three places.