Monday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

BARBAROSA (best price 3/1) almost overcame an extremely tardy start over today’s C&D last time out and providing he breaks on terms on his return visit, Clare Hobson’s inmate has a decent chance of turning the tables on Stopnsearch.

Having his first outing for his new handler, the eight-year-old gave away ground he could ill afford to lose by fly-jumping as the gates crashed back and, as a result, he trailed the field in the early stages. Still in last place turning for home, he picked up nicely down the outside inside the final two furlongs and although he couldn’t quite get on terms with the front pair, the way he hit the line suggested he would have beaten them easily with anything like a decent break.

Working on that theory, it makes little sense why he’s been chalked up twice the price of his old rival and providing he pieces together a more conventional route to the line this time around, the son of Holy Roman Emperor is fancied to make amends.

JET LEGS (best price 3/1) wouldn’t be the first horse this season to be on the receiving end of a Special Rate beating but he lost little in defeat at Kelso last time out and with today’s stiffer track seen as a chance for his stamina to come more to the fore, Martin Todhunter’s gelding receives a confident vote.

A game winner of a competitive novices’ handicap at Newcastle previously, it was easy to see why he was all the rage with the punters to follow up at the Borders venue but despite his supporters a decent amount of hope for the first nine tenths of the journey, he ultimately couldn’t go with the smooth travelling winner from the back of the second last.

That said, he did keep on well enough in second to suggest all is not lost for the future and with his sound jumping always likely to prove an asset, the seven-year-old has enough solid attributes to warrant interest levels in him remain high.

ARLECCHINO’S GIFT (NAP) (best price 3/1) has been knocking at the door of late and with his most recent runner-up effort advertised by the winner and the third since, a reproduction of the same level of form gives him a prime opportunity to gain his just rewards.

Settling nicely in midfield during the first part of a well-run affair at the Midland track, Mark Usher’s inmate was produced with what looked a potential winning challenge at the furlong pole, but no sooner had he struck the front, along came White Mist to steal the prize from under his nose late on.

Although agonising at the time, producing his fastest ever speed figure is some crumb of comfort for his connections going forward and with tonight’s contest looking extremely likely to be run at a similar gallop to what he encountered 21 days ago, anything other than a prominent display would have to go down as a huge disappointment.