Monday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

JOHN BETJEMAN (best price 7/2) is one of the more exposed members of today’s field, but he does arrive here with a series of consistent performances under his belt and another positive show should be forthcoming at a track where his record reads 131221.

A game winner when last visiting the Welsh venue, the seven-year-old has since gone on to finish in the frame three times on his travels, the latest of which came in a competitive 1m6f event on the Flat at Salisbury.

Keeping on well in typically gutsy fashion that day, Mark Gillard’s gelding left the impression he is still holding his form together nicely and with the likelihood of him receiving a more positive ride back at his happy hunting ground, he can be seen to best effect.

TRUEMAN (best price 11/2) must have delighted his set of connections on his first outing for over a year at Wetherby recently and with expected improvement to come, David O’Meara’s inmate has the attributes to take higher rank.

Gelded and switched from Willie Haggas to his current trainer after finishing mid-division on his debut at Yarmouth early last season, the son of Wootton Bassett was understandably a little keen on his return to action at the Yorkshire venue, but that did not stop him from running on strongly from the rear of the field in the latter stages to finish a never-nearer third behind the 78-rated Mahanakhon.

Providing himself with a solid base to work from on the evidence of that initial display, the lightly raced gelding can hopefully continue to make up for lost time and today’s contest looks another vital step in that process.

INDIAN CREAK (best price 11/2) arrives here 4-9 over tonight’s C&D and, with another notable run on his cv courtesy of a solid performance in a strongly run race at Thirsk, Jack Channon’s inmate has every right to be respected in his bid to add his impressive tally.

Shaping as though in need of the run on his first start for 178 days, the six-year-old returned to the Berkshire venue in a bid to make a bigger impact and, in what turned out to be a strongly run affair in the conditions, he easily proved too good for his five opponents.

Sent off a short-priced favourite to dispense of a similar quality field at the Yorkshire track, he failed to match the all-round pace of It Just Takes Time, but as the speed figure of the winner pointed towards a set of numbers far removed from what you would normal expected from a Class3 handicap, there was no shame in getting beaten five lengths.

Just as effected on a quicker surface, highlighted by his victory here last summer, and reunited with Rose Dawes, he should give his set of supporters another decent run for their money.

WHISKY ON THE HILL (NAP) (best price 15/8) is a horse right on top of game at present and having gotten himself out of jail with an impressive turn of foot at Sligo last time out, the hat trick rates a distinct possibility with that all-important weapon up his sleeve.

Impressing both visually and on the clock on his previous visit to the Cleveragh Road track, Ado McGuinness’ gelding was a warm order to repeat the dose over the same C&D a month later and although he ultimately got the job done, there were moments when he supports must have been feeling ill at ease.

However, once in full cry down the centre of the track, he came home to really good effect and with tonight’s longer straight and stiff uphill climb to the line more in his favour, the rest might need him to receive bad luck in running to stop him winning again.