Monday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

ROBERT JOHNSON (NAP) (best price 10/3) has produced two miraculous recoveries of late that would have made James Bond proud and with today’s step up in trip likely to see him in an even better light, the chances of this in-form stayer completing the hat trick are strong. 

A shock 33/1 winner over today’s course on his second start on the flat for current connections, Philip Kirby’s inmate was nowhere near that sort of price in his bid to follow up at Thirsk last time out and despite seemingly having plenty to do as the field turned for home, he showed a smart turn of foot late on to run down his prey. 

Not only was the overall time figure of the race useful, his final three furlongs split was on-par with several of the sprint races on the same card that evening and with likelihood of him being a little closer to the gallop tonight due to the smaller field, his turn of foot at this sort of level should prove the decisive factor. 

SCOTCH MIST (best price 7/1) shaped nicely on her first start for 542 days at Yarmouth last time out and in a race that lacks any great strength in depth beyond Rockit Tommy, she looks the one to be with in the with and without the favourite markets.

Promising at Newmarket on her only start as a two-year-old, Julia Fielden’s filly clearly had a big issue to be off the track for such a long period of time, but nursed back to full health, she was able to run to a decent standard on the comeback trail at the seaside track.

Held up just off the decent pace set 30 days ago, she came there to hold every chance at the two-furlong pole, but no sooner had she looked like one of the likelier winners, her time off the track eventually took its toll and she ultimately faded back into fourth. 

That said, her speed figure was fairly healthy considering her rustiness and with just normal improvement from that performance to today, she looks easily capable of going close based on that form. 

MIGHTY TOM (best price 7/2) turned a very competitive handicap into something of a procession here yesterday and providing he pulls out sound again this morning, there is a strong possibility the eight-year-old can repeat the dose 24 hours on.

Given a typically patient ride by Denis O’Regan, Cian Collins’ gelding picked off his rivals one by one going down the back straight and by the time he cleared the third last, he looked as though he had just joined in. Cruising clear of his toiling field from that juncture, he scored with any amount in hand, and it was a performance that was a clear indication he is back to something like his best.

Good on the numbers also, his final circuit time was over four seconds quicker than the listed hurdle won by Shecouldbeanything and with tonight’s step up in trip seen as a positive based on his previous effort behind Seddon at Punchestown (2m3f), the son of Dylan Thomas looks to have gilt-edged opportunity.