Monday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

PEARL ISLAND (best price 10/1) shaped nicely on both his two starts in bumpers last season and being the type to do well once stepping up in trip, today’s contest looks the perfect platform from which to build on his first term over hurdles.

All at sea due to greenness and lack of tactical speed on his debut in a strongly run affair at Warwick, he did keep on well in the latter stages to suggest he had a reasonable future and the same comments applied on his next start at Ludlow.

Around a track that was never likely to play into his strengths, he once again did all his best work inside the final half a mile and even based on those two small sample sizes, he looks a horse for whom stamina will be his key forte further down the line.

In the hands of a trainer who does well with this type, Henry Daly’s inmate will hopefully be at a certain level on his first run for 194 days whereby he can outrun his morning odds.

Royal Power offered more promise than the bare result suggested here last time out but so too did LUCENTIO (best price 4/1) on his debut at Yarmouth and at the morning odds, John & Thady Gosden’s colt makes more sense from a value perspective.

Looking to be going nowhere two furlongs out at the seaside track, the son of Too Darn Hot picked up nicely in the closing stages and hitting the line hard, he left the impression he would be a totally different proposition next time.

Hailing from a stable doing well with their backend two-year-olds, this promising type for next season can this campaign on a high.

The novice event won by Tarjeeh over today’s C&D two weeks ago was noted for its strong overall time figure and having exhibited quite a bit of promise to finish a creditable fifth on debut, MELEKI (best price 9/2) is fancied to build on that initial experience and have more of a say second time around.

Slightly slow exiting the gates at the Dunstall Park track, Simon & Ed Crisford’s filly was shaken up to race just behind the leaders heading down the back straight and then when the tempo cranked up a notch due to the antics of Mazzorbo, she became a little outpaced and lost her position rounding the home turn.

Never likely to threaten the main players from this juncture, she did, however, finish off her race in pleasing fashion inside the final two furlongs and hitting the line quite hard, she left the distinct impression she would know a good deal more next time.

Timewise, her numbers come out quite well in comparison to the front two in today’s race and although it would probably be going overboard to suggest she was the bet of the century on her return visit, at the same time 9-2 seems more than fair about a filly likely to improve significantly on her sympathetic introduction.

AEROPLANE MODE (best price 10/1) could never land a blow at the main players on his latest outing here several weeks ago but at the same time he did more than enough to suggest that he is worth another chance when stepping up in trip and at the morning odds, he is worth a small interest to see whether that theory comes to fruition.

Settling in last place after a slow beginning 16 days ago, John Butler’s inmate was still in the same position as the field turned for home, but he was noted doing some sterling late work inside the final two furlongs and it’s that promise he delivered on which his chance is built around on his return visit.

Half-brother to a winning 1m6f performer on the all-weather, hopefully a slight step up in trip might unlock enough improvement for the son of Gleneagles to be more competitive in this similar heat.