Monday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

HIGH GAME ROYAL (best price 10/3) might have failed to justify favouritism at Chepstow last time but the data from the race 23 days ago suggested he ran a career high in defeat and a performance of a similar standard makes him the one to beat now dropping in grade.

Sent off a warm 6-4 favourite to build on his excellent effort on chase debut at Warwick previously, the seven-year-old looked likely to justify his position in the market when he loomed up going well three out but he ultimately found two too strong in the latter stages and he ended up having to settle for an honourable third.

Even so, he still shaped well enough in a race where the speed figure was the best on the card and he deserves to be kept on side knowing he is almost certain to run his race based on his overall profile.

BENSON (best price 4/1) ran out an impressive winner of this race twelve months ago and having put in an effort at Aintree last time out that suggested he’s beginning to work his way back to the same sort of form, Sandy Thomson’s gelding can repeat the dose.

Having his first outing of the season at the Merseyside track, the nine-year-old looked ring rusty against race fit rivals as the tempo increased rounding the home turn but it was noticeable how well he kept on in the closing stages to finish a creditable fourth and it was a performance that should set him up nicely for the rest of the season.

Seen to really good effect when allowed to dominate here twelve months ago, similar tactics could easily see a copy and paste performance.

Quite a strong-looking race of its kind with several progressive types bidding to continue their climb up the ranks and of those who seemingly arrive here at the peak of their powers, THE NEWEST ONE (best price 8/1) makes the most appeal at the morning odds.

Still a maiden over hurdles at the beginning of the campaign, Nigel Twiston-Davies’ inmate almost made a breakthrough in a hot handicap over today’s course back in November only to find the race-fit and progressive Buddy One too strong in the closing stages. That said, he did manage to finish way clear of the rest and with final circuit sectionals suggesting he ran much better than Springwell Bay, who landed the 2m5f handicap on the same card, he looks overpriced in his bid to uphold that theory against one of his main market rivals at the very least.

Duly landing short price favouritism at Chepstow last time out with a degree of swagger, the nine-year-old looks just the type who will keep plugging away all day under these conditions and with some firms offering four places, it will be disappointing if he doesn’t fill out one of those positions.

CALL ME HARRY (best price 7/2) was in the process of running a big race at Aintree when unseating rider two out at Aintree last time out and providing he’s suffered no lasting damage from that untimely exit, the six-year-old can add to his terrific record at today’s venue.

Held up towards the rear at the Merseyside track, the six-year-old made smooth progress to join the leaders approaching two out but as he made his challenge towards the outer wing, he half shied to run out and he ended up depositing his pilot on the turf.

Whether he would have prevailed is difficult to say but there was a decent chance he would have played a significant role at the very least and he is afforded another chance to prove he remains a progressive handicapper back at the scene of his previous impressive C&D victory.