Monday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

MY GIFT TO YOU (best price 15/8) has looked like a horse way ahead of his current rating based on his last two victories and hailing from a stable who continue to impress with their resurrection of other trainer’s cast offs, James Owen’s inmate seems poised to complete the hat trick.

Disappointing on many occasions when housed with Paul Webber, the five-year-old was switched to his Newmarket base in a bid to breath some life back into his game and having been found a modest hurdle contest to begin his potent comeback, he made mincemeat of an opening handicap mark of 70.

Out again soon after with the view of taking advantage of his wellbeing, the son of Kingston Hill duly followed up at Worcester over fences a week later and although the winning margin was only a length and a half, there was an element of smoke and mirrors issued from his pilot on the run-in.

Up in trip and on slightly easier ground than he has encountered before, the lightly raced five-year-old must answer a few different questions to the ones posed before but with the strong possibility the assessor still hasn’t got to the bottom of his yet, he looks set to prove equal to the task.

NATIVE FIGHTER (best price 6/1) left the impression here last time his effort was all part of the process of getting him back in the groove and now dropping back down to a level that seems scarcely believable given his back class, Jimmy Moffatt’s gelding can go well again at a track that has served him so well in the past.

A 124-rated hurdler less than two years ago, the nine-year-old rather lost his way after wind surgery towards the backend of last season and after being pulled up on his return to action following a 226-day break here back in June, you couldn’t accuse connections of being a little worried about where his career was going.

Considering the confusion on his wellbeing, it was rather odd to say the least, the son of Lawman was asked to contest a super competitive Class 3 event over two miles here last time and unsurprisingly, he never remotely looked like getting involved.

However, he did stay on very pleasingly in the final half a mile to salvage a bit of pride and that performance certainly gives him a platform from which to build. Likely to find the respite of today’s Class 5 opposition easier to digest, the step back up in trip on slower ground should allow him to find some sort of rhythm that will hopefully see him far more competitive at the business end.

SPOT ON SOPH (NAP) (best price 7/2) didn’t have the race run anywhere near to suit her last time at market Rasen and in the hope that same set of circumstances doesn’t arise for the second time on the spin, Sam England’s inmate has a decent chance to put matter right over this more suitable test.

A smooth winner at the Lincolnshire venue two starts ago, the daughter of Walk In The Park returned to the same venue a well backed favourite to repeat the dose but in a slowly run race which became a sprint from two out, she found herself in a position whereby she was too far back to make an impression on the front pair on the run-in.

That said, the way she finished off her race in the closing stages suggested she remains in rude form and with today’s slower ground and extra yardage very much to her advantage, the in-form mare can add to her trainer’s excellent track stats.

MAC AILEY (best price 9/1) just came out second best of a ding-dong dual with stable mate Little Ted over today’s C&D last time out and a repeat of something similar should see Tim Easterby’s gelding go close to gaining compensation.

Pushed along early assume command at the Yorkshire venue, the seven-year-old soon found himself setting even fractions from the front and although he ultimately couldn’t quite shake off the attentions of all his rivals in the latter stages, it is worth pointing out he still finished six lengths clear of previous easy winner Premiership.

Suited by 1m2f with some ease underfoot, conditions today should prove ideal and at the morning prices, he makes quite a bit of appeal from an each-way perspective.