Monday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

ALL THE GLORY (NAP) (best price 5/2) wasn’t seen to best effect given how the race panned out at Stratford on Saturday and in the hope that confirmed front runner, Way Out, ensures there is a more even gallop, Jonjo O’Neill’s mare is fancied to recoup losses.

Heading into the contest at the Midland off the back of two smooth victories, it was easy to see why she was made a warm order to dispose of just two rivals, but in what turned out to be a tactical affair dictated by the front-running Donnie Azoff, she basically got done for speed as the race turned into a sprint inside the final half a mile.

Although it’s a quick turnaround, she probably would have done more at home than what transpired over the weekend and with connections keen to get her back on track as soon as possible, their bold policy can be rewarded with maximum returns.

BEAUTY TO BEHOLD (best price 11/4) probably isn’t the most straightforward of characters but there’s no denying she has enough ability to win races and following several useful efforts against better opposition than she faces today, Mike Smith’s grey can finally get off the mark.

Placed on all three previous starts at today’s track prior to contesting a competitive handicap on her start for new connections back at Scoon Palace a month ago, the six-year-old mare was given a more patient ride than normal and even though those new tactics ultimately came up a little short, it was noticeable she settled well throughout the first two miles.

Whether a similar hold-up ride is the order of the day again remains to be seen but now Gavin Sheehan knows a little bit more about her foibles, hopefully he can deliver her challenge to a nicety on her return to a track she knows intimately.

SAINT ARVANS (best price 10/3) has put together a strong series of results during the summer period and with the form of his latest effort at Worcester reading well in the context of today’s race, a return to a venue that last saw him victorious can gain maximum rewards. 

Held up towards the rear at the Midland venue, the nine-year-old latched on to the tail end of the main group rounding the home turn but despite making steady progress through the final half a mile, he couldn’t lay a glove on the winner, Courtland, who powered clear of his field in the closing stages.

That said, it was still a fair enough performance from a horse who seems to have been around forever and when you consider his previous two performances in the Summer Plate at Market Rasen and his runner-up effort at Bangor, a repeat of any of those three runs should see him competitive now he has his sights slightly lowered.