Monday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

HAJEY (best price 7/2) did everything asked of him here last time only to get his pocket picked close home, but it was at least another performance to cement his love affair with today’s C&D and under similar conditions, Tracy Waggott’s gelding can further add to his track stats that read U2112.

Setting out to make all the running at the Yorkshire track, he still looked to have matters well under control as he kicked for home rounding the home turn but to his misfortune, he came across a particularly resolute opponent in the shape of the improving Herakles Westwood, who had the audacity to spoil the party literally in the last stride.

No doubt connections still have steam coming out of their ears after that result but the seven-year-old has a chance to put matters right and with another attacking ride around the outside of the track likely, he can gain his just rewards.

KOTMASK (best price 7/4) won in the style of an improving young chaser at Sandown last time out and with the potential of even more to come now upped in trip, Gary Moore’s inmate looks set to continue his stable’s fine recent run of form.

A fine fourth in a warm Kempton handicap previously, the six-year-old was dropped back down in trip at the Esher venue last time out but in what turned out to be a very strongly run affair (there were three notable front runners in the field), his proven stamina became the key component in the latter stages.

Unsurprisingly clocking a very smart speed figure, he now heads back to a track where he ran out a comfortable winner earlier in the campaign and with an extra four furlongs and a likely decent pace to shoot at thanks to Ballybeen being in the line-up, the son of Masked Marvel can make it three wins in six starts over fences.

KALEB (NAP) (best price 5/2) unsurprisingly found life in the fast lane of the Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton too hot to handle last time out but with his sights significantly lowered to the tune of two grades, and blinkers of for the first time, Amy Murphy’s has a fine chance of returning to winning ways.

Although that adventurous trip to the Sunbury venue last month didn’t amount to much, he still ran perfectly respectably in the context of today’s race and prior to that effort he’d also performed with a good deal of credit in another hot handicap behind Go Dante at Cheltenham.

Runner-up to the useful Arqoob at Sandown previously, he filled out the same position when chasing home Small Bad Bob over today’s course back in October and now returning to the scene of that display up against a bunch of opponents who simply wouldn’t have the capabilities of running anywhere the sort of level outlined, it would be something of a surprise if he couldn’t stamp his class on proceedings under optimum conditions.

ISLAND NATIVE (best price 3/1) couldn’t match the turn of foot exhibited by Berkshire Phantom here last time out but safe in the knowledge he’s unlikely to cross paths against a horse of that nature in this event, his return visit to Dunstall Park can be a fruitful one.

Holding every chance spinning off the home turn nine days ago, Mick Appleby’s gelding was engulfed by a horse returning to his best form but when you considering the speed figure he ran in defeat and the winner has gone on to win again, there was certainly no shame attached to that effort.

Heading back in the direction of a trip more in-keeping with his overall profile, the four-year-old has the option of either trying to make all or sitting on the shoulder of Jumeira Vision, but whatever tactics connections decide to use, he should have the capabilities of going close in a race of this nature.