Monday Horse Racing Tips from Andy Holding

D ART D ART (NAP) (best price 4-1) patently failed to stay 2m4f at Gowran last time out, but he still went through the race like a quality performer and with connections soon to recognise that the minimum trip is where the five-year-old belongs, he is worth another chance to back up that view. 

Good on the eye and on the numbers when off the mark over hurdles at Cork back in January, a bad blunder three from home when going well spoilt any chance he had of following up at Down Royal next time out and, as a result of that untimely mistake, Thomas Cooper’s inmate was all the rage to make amends on his first attempt in handicap company at the Kenny venue a month later. 

Still tanking along as the competitive field turned for home, the five-year-old came off the bridle on the run down to the last and following a tired jump at that juncture, his effort soon petered out and he eventually ended up finishing a well beaten fourth. 

Clearly better than what he showed on his last two starts, a mark of 121 probably still underestimates his true worth and now dropping back down to two miles, a clean round of jumping can see him finally back up that view.

LISEO’s (best price 5-1) recent form figures may look disappointing at first glance but there have been mitigating circumstances surrounding each run and no back to the scene of some of his better performances, Simon & Ed Crisford’s gelding can put his credentials for the final of this series firmly in the shop window.

Undone by the draw at Wolverhampton three starts ago, the same fate awaited him at Southwell last time but on each occasion, he did his level best to salvage something from the wreckage and as he didn’t get beaten too far both times, he can be cut some slack. 

Not quite seeing out the 1m4f trip here in between times, he now returns to his optimum distance and in a race that lacks the strength in depth he’s been used to of late, the five-year-old can replicate his C&D victory over subsequent winner God Of Thunder back in January.

Competitive fare for the grade but MIGUEL (best price 8-1) looks to have been underestimated in the market based on his effort here last time out and with quite a few firms offering three places on their each-way terms, Jack Channon’s inmate makes a good deal of appeal. 

Having his first run post gelding operation and off a 133-day break, the three-year-old chestnut broke alertly from the widest gate here 23 days ago to track the pace-setting Queues Likely and although he failed in his bid to go by the hat trick-seeking filly, he kept on well enough to finish a creditable runner-up. 

Timewise, the race in question easily proved the best on the card and with today’s step up to the extended mile seen as a positive move based on his sole attempt at that trip at Brighton last season, he can more than hold his own against a whole plethora of last time out winners. 

INTENSE RAFFLES (best price 13-2) has created a favourable impression on the two times he has shipped up at today’s venue and with a run style that has turned out to be quite effective in this marathon in recent times, Thomas Gibney’s gelding can make a bold bid from the front. 

A smooth winner of a novices’ event here on his first outing since joining new connections from France, the six-year-old was given the opportunity to see whether he would be equally effective beyond three miles for the first time when sent back to the Co Meath track next time and under a similarly attacking ride, he answered all the questions posed with a degree of panache. 

Jumping and travelling well throughout, the extent of his superiority was easily for all to see and even though today’s task will be a whole lot different in every aspect, the son of Martaline can prove equal to the task if getting into a good early rhythm. 

GREEN POWER (best price 7-1), like a fine wine, seems to be getting better with age, and following two recent successes both here and at Wolverhampton last time, the hat trick bid looks well within his reach. 
The nine-year-old claimed a notable scalp over today’s C&D in the shape of Saturday’s smooth Lingfield winner Cephalus, and he went on to prove his wellbeing at the Midland venue a month later, burrowing his way up the far rail to score going away. 

Clearly in the rudest of health, the nine-year-old probably could have done with a better draw and but providing he can work into a position where he is in within strikable range turning for home, he is likely to be as strong as anything down the lane.