Monday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

GOLDSMITH (NAP) (best price 2/1) is improving at a rapid rate of knots and now that he seems to be just as effective over a mile as he has been over further, Alice Haynes’ gelding has a decent chance to complete his hat trick. 

Better known for his exploits over 1m2f, the five-year-old was dropped to today’s trip at Southwell last time out in a bid to extend his winning run and even though the race wasn’t run at a true gallop from the start, he still found the necessary turn of foot to get the job done.

Not eligible for Class 5 races in future, connections had no choice by to come here with a mandatory penalty and even though he faces a similarly in-form rival in the shape of Inverlochy, he is fancied to justify the relatively quick turnaround.

The two-mile handicap hurdle won by Ataboycharlie at Leopardstown’s Christmas fixture was noted for its useful speed figure for the grade and having run right up to his best form in chasing home the winner, WOODSTREAM LAD (best price 5/1) is worth a few quid to prove he has the best form on offer. 

A smooth winner on his first start for new connections at Thurles back in November, Philip Rothwell’s gelding was pitched into the white-hot heat of an extremely competitive novices’ handicap at the Dublin venue last time out and for a fleeting moment heading down to the last, it looked like he was going to bely his 20-1 odds.

Unfortunately, he eventually succumbed to the late thrust of a horse clearly way better than his rating of 111 (now 123) and he had to settle for an honourable second. That said, looking at the data from that contest 20 days ago, both he and the winner managed to run quicker than the likes of No Flies On Him and King Of Kingsfield in their respective novice hurdles over the same C&D, so based on those findings, the seven-year-old lost nothing in defeat.

Although he has yet to race at today’s track, he is just as good going right-handed as he is left and hailing from a stable who have enjoyed a decent spell of form over the past few weeks, another solid effort should be forthcoming. 

Connections of BALLYBEEN (best price 3/1) must wonder what the son of Presenting must do to win a race, but such was his sterling effort at Chepstow last time out, the feeling is he might not have to wait too much longer and, a track where he has gone well in the past, today could well be the day he has his consistency rewarded. 

Setting a decent gallop at the Welsh venue, Sam Thomas’ inmate was still hanging tough in front jumping the second last and even once headed by Ballycamus on the run-in, he was brave to the bitter end, coming back for more in the shadows of the post. 

Posting a career high on the figures that day despite his defeat, the form of the race has worked out accordingly and providing he doesn’t jump badly to his left, like he did when throwing a race away here last season, the eight-year-old might gain compensation.

MICKS SPIRIT (best price 5/1) did his level best to overcome a brutal trip out wide over today’s C&D last time out and now slightly better off in that department on his return visit, Conrad Allen’s inmate can finally get his head in front in a race he’s been placed twice before. 

Drawn eight of eight in a competitive affair here 15 days ago, he was always going to have to use up vital energy he could ill afford to give away but to his great credit he hung tough for majority of the five furlongs, and it was only inside the final 100yds his petrol gauge flickered on empty. 

A four-time C&D scorer and runner-up in this race last year, the booking of Billy Loughnane is the final piece in the jigsaw to his chances of going one place better.