Monday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

ONLYAMATTEROFTIME (NAP) (best price 9/4) needed the intervention of the stewards to gain his first career success at Punchestown last time out but with the numbers from that race a month ago suggesting there was no fluke about his effort, Niall Madden’s inmate shouldn’t have too many fears with today’s opponents reverting to hurdles if running to a similar standard.

Sent off at 25-1 at the Co Kildare venue, the seven-year-old raced in the rear until making his move approaching the home turn and just at the point when he looked to be getting the better of the well-fancied Willie Mullins-trained I Will Be Baie, he suffered sufficient interference that meant the decision to reverse the result was inevitable.  

Unlike most bumpers, the time figure the front pair produced 30 days ago suggested they had gone a proper pace from the start and with the rest of the field strung out like washing (last horse home beaten 127 lengths), it’s probably safe to go with the view we are dealing with a couple of above-average performers for the time of year.

No match for Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner, Marine Nationale, in his previous contest over hurdles, the son of Getaway clearly benefitted from a break of 241 days that ensued, and with the scope and potential to start making up for lost time, this lightly raced gelding can crack on with a win here tonight over a trip that should suit.

EDWINA SHEERAN (best price 15/8) galloped on strongly all the way to the line when turning away previous wide-margin winner Greek Giant over today’s C&D last time out and with there being no obvious reason why connections would switch up front running tactics, a similar result looks on the cards for the daughter of Decorated Knight.

Appreciating being at the head of affairs when an all-the-way winner at Beverley three starts ago, she failed in her bid to follow up at Redcar six days later, but dropping back to 1m4f and a track that often complements runners who like to dictate matters, the three-year-old chestnut reverted to being the boss.

Posting a smart speed figure for the grade in the process, she heads back to the Yorkshire track full of confidence on ground she enjoys and, other than the potentially tricky Alex The Great, a bunch of opponents by and large out of sorts.