Monday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

MOKAATIL (best price 11/2) needed ever yard – 21 to be precise - of the minimum trip to get up in the shadows of the post here last time out and now racing over arguably his optimum distance of six furlongs, Ian Willaims’ inmate can record career victory number 11.

Despite his overall record suggesting five furlongs might be an insufficient test, the nine-year-old was well backed to defy the stats at the Dunstall Park venue two weeks ago and luckily for him and his supporters, the race was run in much a way his ability to stay further ultimately became the determining factor.

Still some way off the pace turning for home, the son of Lethal Force went for a brave run up the inside and even though that part of the track at the Midland venue isn’t always the smartest place to challenge, he somehow snatched victory from the jaws of defeat close home.

Clearly in the rudest of health based on his input that day, the combination of Billy Loughnane retaining the ride, being drawn in stall one and an extra furlong all add up for him to have a good lash at going back-to-back for the second time in his career.

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PEGASUS OF HARRY (best price 5/1) shaped well on her handicap debut over today’s course last time out and with the step up in trip seen as a possible source of improvement, Marco Botti’s filly can prove the surprise package of the race.

Not unsupported beforehand in a race where there were one or two fancied from powerful stables, the daughter of Harry Angel was one of the first to feel the heat down the back straight and rounding the home turn, but to her great credit she stuck to her task in the final two furlongs and eventually ran on to finish a creditable third.

The way she stayed on after hitting that mid-race crisis suggests connections are spot on with their keenness to step her up to 1m4f as soon as possible, and with the data from that effort 14 days ago showing that she hasn’t got as much to find with some of her rivals than the market will have you believe, she deserves to be played accordingly.