Monday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

The sight of a previous Willie Mullins-trained bumper winner in a novice hurdle is enough to make the opposition feel a tad uncomfortable but that should not be the case where SAMUI (best price 5/1) is concerned, and he is fancied to more than hold his own with valuable experience on his side.

Regarded highly enough by connections to tackle the Grade 2 Bumper at the Aintree festival, Gordon Elliott’s inmate acquitted himself with a good deal of credit against the best in that division (9th of 20) and after a promising enough start over hurdles at Tipperary, he made no mistake at the second time of asking.

Found a seemingly straightforward enough looking task at Tramore a month ago, the son of Siyouni always had matters well in hand and despite a slight scare at the second last, he pulled nicely clear on the run in to win as he liked.

Clocking a useful speed figure to boot, the four-year-old has seen the form of his victory well-advertised since and with connections having this race in mind ever since, he arrives here fresh and well with confidence behind him of a positive display.

DARKENED (best price 7/1) may be a shade more exposed than some but he does have a very good understanding of what it takes to win over today’s track and that valuable experience is enough to make him a bet at the morning odds.

A real regular at Ballybrit ever since runner-up on his second start as a juvenile when trained by John Oxx, he has since racked up form figures here that read 210144 and with the latest of those two victories coming in this very race twelve months ago, it is safe to assume connections have had this race in mind for quite some time.

Looking at his latest effort over an inadequate trip on the Flat at Killarney recently, preparations seem to have gone swimmingly for the seven-year-old and all conditions coming alike to this reliable type, another bold show looks in the offing.

TEED UP (NAP) (best price 10/3) is in the care of connections who leave no stones unturned when it comes to preparing one for a tilt at this meeting and with his latest performance after a long break suggesting this contest has been the plan for some time, Emmet Mullins’ inmate has all the necessary requirements to pull off the gamble (well backed in the ante-post market).

Coming back off a 248-day absence at the Waterford venue, the six-year-old ran on strongly from the rear of the field to chase home the more prominently ridden Lord Erskine and with that performance going a long way to prove his current wellbeing, he should be just about primed for what he is about to face here this week (likely to race more than once).

Successful on his second of two outings here last season, there is a good chance he will be just as industrious this time around and with form figures at the Ballybrit that make impressive viewing (21121), it would be something of a shock if the son of Gleneagles does not end up a massive player at the business end.

DANCE NIGHT ANDDAY (best price 40/1) has shown more than a modicum of ability in three starts to date and even though there is a strong possibility she might got lost in a race of this nature; her morning odds offset the risk.

Mildly promising on her first two outings, Ross O’Sullivan’s filly was sent to Fairyhouse for her latest venture and having languished in the rear for much of the journey, she came home with a fair rattle to finish a never-nearer sixth.

Hot on the heels of horses rated around the 80-mark at the Meath track, she appears to have come out of that encounter with a reasonable mark of 69 and although today’s contest represents a complete baptism of fire compared to maiden company, it’s not as if she is facing a field of superstars tonight either. As they say, “nothing ventured, noting gained”, so at 40-1, she is worth a small each-way interest.