Monday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

RHYTHM KING (best price 6/1) reveals in the mud and with his latest effort at Gowran going a long way to backing up that viewpoint, Mark Fahey’s gelding rates a strong choice to supplement those gains.

Disappointing when receiving a wide trip on decent ground at Fairyhouse the time before, he was sent back to one of his happy hunting grounds in the hope the move would initiate a response and as it turned out, the three-year-old reminded everyone of what a useful horse he is when conditions are in his favour.

Clocking a smart time figure in beating a useful field at the Co Kenny venue, his arm is now chanced at a track where he has gone particularly well in his two previous visits and with today’s heavy ground likely to suit him more than most, he has the skill set to overcome a tricky double-figure draw.

GLOBE PLAYER (best price 9/2) can count himself extremely unfortunate to bump a horse of Diamond Ri’s class on his debut in a bumper at Warwick last season and with today’s contest looking a good starting point for Stuart Edmond’s on his opening gambit over hurdles, he has a decent chance of making a bright beginning in his new discipline.

Racing handy going down the back straight, he soon became outpaced as the strong tempo was cranked up even further but to his credit, he hung tough to come through well at the death to finish an honourable second.

Although no match for the impressive winner, who will probably be taking high rank among some of the season’s best novice hurdlers, the son of Nathaniel still ended up posting the sort of speed figure usually saved for the bigger meetings and with today’s trip likely to suit based on how he shaped at the Midland venue, only lack of match practice/fitness can prevent him from underachieving.

IMMUTABLE (best price 11/4), the only three-year-old in the race, has been model of consistency throughout the season and following another solid display in a hot handicap at Naas last time out, Joe Murphy’s inmate can come on top for the younger generation.

Sent off favourite to land a competitive three-year-old handicap at the Co Kildare venue, the Muhaarar gelding laid his cards on the table right from the start and although he ultimately had to play second fiddle to the improving Bottle’secrect, he ended up posting a career high effort on the numbers in defeat.

To advertise how strong the form is, the third home that day, Eastern Legend, went on to capture to valuable October Handicap over the same course next time and having run well on his only previous try at today’s course back in July, another positive outcome looks on the cards.

SPECIAL PROTECTOR (NAP) (best price 4/1) has still yet to win a race after 17 attempts but as several of her most recent performances have been better than the bare form has suggested, she is well worth persevering with at this level.

On her latest outing at Gowran for instance, she easily came out best of those who attempted to come to the stands side when it was clear the far side of the track was infinity quicker and the time before she was plain and simply given far too much to do.

Although unproven over today’s trip, the way she stays 1m2f suggests she will prove equally effective and hailing from a stable who continues to churn out the winners at a pretty decent rate, Timothy Doyle’s mare is a strong choice to make a deserved breakthrough.