Monday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

CZECH HER OUT (best price 4/1) has been a reformed character on the evidence of her most recent exploits, and with one of her two victories making her the only C&D winner in today’s line-up, an effort of similar proportions may well allow her to add to her tally. 

Well beaten here last July, Michael Scudamore’s mare returned to the Midland venue a month later in a bid to put together something a little more meaningful, and as it turned out, she proved the revelation of the race. Despite being sent off a 33-1 chance, your eyes were drawn to the way she travelled throughout and when delivered with a well-timed challenge on the run down to the last, she readily pulled away from her rivals on the run-in. 

Clearly settling better in accordance to being dropped out in the rear that day, similar tactics were employed at Southwell on her return after a 232-day break and in an almost copy and paste performance, she once again came through strongly at the business to get the job done. 

Likely to adopt the same approach again today, expect the daughter of Fame And Glory to be a bystander for majority of the journey until being brought with her run down the straight and, as she likes to race wide, hopefully she will also be allowed to jump on the faster strip of ground nearest the stand side rail (rain forecast for majority of the day).

SAMTARA (best price 3/1) left everything out on the track when a brave runner-up in a warm handicap at Cheltenham last time and with today’s race much more favourable in terms of opposition and trip, Martin Keighley’s gelding can return to winning ways. 

0-22 heading into his previous contest at Hereford, the nine-year-old finally found an opportunity which was far too good to squander, and that new-found confidence seemed to spread to his every fibre with his effort at the home of jump racing 19 days ago.

Setting off to make it a proper test dropping back in trip at the Prestbury venue, he was still in with a fighting chance of holding all comers on the run to the last, but just as he had managed to see off his main challenger in the shape of By Your Side, along came the second wave of attack from the patiently ridden Black Poppy. 

Unable to contain that late thrust, the son of Kayf Tara did, however, keep on well to fend off the rest and with the speed figure suggesting it was a fair race of its kind, hopefully he can conjure up another honest shift from the front here today.