MONDAY RACING TIPS

16:00 Windsor

Although it's a Monday and although it's only the start of the turf flat season it's nice to see such a competitive novice race with some major trainers represented. With surnames such as Appleby, Gosden, Haggas, Crisford and more all on the race card it's safe to say that we can expect a handful of winners to come out of this race so I'd argue that if we witnessed a very dominant display from whoever finishes infront I'd take them very seriously for the remainder of the season.

True Accolade and Salvator Mundi renew their rivalry after competing on their respective racecourse debut's at Kempton just less than three weeks ago. True Accolade finished one spot ahead of Gosden's runner that time and I expect the gelding to finish ahead of the colt once again.

The Godolphin owned runner looks likely to improve markedly on his sole start to date and it's hard to look past the runner who'll be sporting the famous royal blue silks.

Of the remainder it'd be foolish to ignore Balgowan considering the yard he represents and I expect him to be the most likely to trouble the favourite and debutants Sooghan and Loving And Giving may make up the places.

TRUE ACCOLADE (WIN)

16:53 Redcar

The final race on the card at Redcar sees a very competitive ten furlong handicap where I'm going to opt for one of the handful of horses who've had an outing within the past two months. From this quintet we have the favourite and second favourite Al Qaasim and Cathayennis who both look likely to make the frame but it's one at a bigger price that takes my fancy.

We Still Believe produced a pretty woeful performance on the all-weather at Newcastle back in February however he can be forgiven that performance that came after a long absence and on his less favoured all-weather. A return to the turf should suit and with race fitness back to where it needs to be I expect a much better run from Ben Haslem's charge. At the age of four he also has room to progress and it'd be foolish to write him off entirely after just one poor run.

WE STILL BELIEVE (E/W)

17:15 Kelso

Approach this race with an abundance of caution. An open, national hunt flat race in April at Kelso doesn't spring to mind the phrase "sure fire certainty" and my selection here has to be taken tentatively. That being said despite former winner Doyen Du Bar leading the market and the well connected Maughold Head deserving of betting support I find myself siding with an unraced outsider.

Trainer Ewan Whillians may have charge of a small string but he has a fantastic +£40.00 to a level £1 stake with his national hunt flat runners and with his yard also bagging a recent winner here at Kelso his runner Rocky Hill may do far better than his odds suggest. I don't expect him to claim the victory but the son of Kingston Hill could make the frame. My only worry however is the trainer sends out another runner in the form of Diablo Loch. If either attract market support I'd urge you to take them seriously.

ROCKY HILL (E/W)

17:30 Windsor

The final race on the card from the "Royal Course" sees current favourite Two Tempting aim to finally take home victory after back to back second placed finishes. Deserving of his spot as the market leader but his unwillingness to finish with his head infront is off putting.

Another runner who's yet to taste success is Clive Cox's Pavlodar who despite never finding his way into the winners enclosure has been ultra-consistent picking up three placed finishes from his four career starts to date and shouldn't be taken lightly.

The above being said it's actually another maiden that takes my fancy. Trainer Richard Hannon saddles two runners and despite Thunder Queen previously winning it's his alternative runner Cabrakan that gets my vote. The form of his fourth on the all-weather at Kempton reads pretty well. The winner went on to compete in much higher grades at Meydan this winter and both the third and fifth have gone on to boost the form with their own subsequent victories. If he's ready and fit after his winter break he's worth an each way punt.

CABRAKAN (E/W)

written by Rory Paddock