talkSPORT have you covered with free horse racing tips and free bets on Monday’s fixtures at Plumpton and Pontefract.
Tom Lunn has gone through the cards, form, going and much more to help guide your horse racing betting choices.
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Monday racing tips
PLUMPTON
2.25: Ami Bondhu 5/2 (1pt)
3.55: Menaggio 8/11 (2pts)
4.25: For Pleasure 11/1 Each-way (1pt)
PONTEFRACT
3.15: Love Talk 7/2 (1pt)
3.45: Sophia’s Starlight 5/1 Each-way (1.5pts)
Realistic Optimism
Realistic Optimism is probably what you need to be backing this horse as he comes back from just over 2 years off.
Now trained by Jamie Snowden, he was placed behind Thecompanysergeant who has since gone on to progress well over hurdles and fences, rated 136 over the latter.
Has been off since after he was set to make a maiden hurdle appearance in May, but was a non-runner due to reporting lame on the day.
He faces some younger opponents as a result today which could be in his favour as he’s had longer to fill out and add more muscle than other younger horses are able to.
But that absence is significant, despite Touquet and Ami Bondhu also coming in off similar summer breaks.
Lord Maher won on rules debut but it was a slow finish and will need to frank that form as his previous rivals haven’t quite.
Luna Effect’s fourth on hurdles debut was actually quite encouraging behind some more experienced hurdlers and promising jumpers.
King William Rufus placed 2nd in that and had won his maiden hurdle at Plumpton in March by over four lengths, before going a very close second at Kempton in a decent handicap.
The betting sees Touquet drift and it looks a good option form-wise to side with Ami Bondhu instead of the long-time absentee, as he placed well enough in a Class 2 bumper at Warwick in January, when carrying top-weight.
For Pleasure
War Lord certainly seems a bit too exposed over fences when looking at Menaggio making his chase debut.
He could be on a workable mark based on his form over hurdles, especially last time out at Kempton when he was half a length second to Inoui Machin after placing well enough behind some decent hurdlers, Kamsinas and Be Aware.
There’s just three rivals in this contest with the other, Sainte Doctor a huge 9/1 price coming in off a huge 544 day break and still drifting in the betting as Icare Grandchamp and Prince Quali are non-runners.
The odds-on favourite makes a lot of sense to back for 2pts, albeit there’s always risks attached for debutants.
For Pleasure
I’d love to see River Gold bounce back having had no luck for Nicky Henderson last season and needing a wind op.
The filly is still young at just four-years-old and has joined James Owen who’s getting a good amount of winners at this time of year.
She went off a mark of 116 in January and has already slumped to 103 after some hefty defeats in her last two hurdle contests, with something clearly amiss.
Especially after winning in France so well which helped prompt a sale and move to Britain. But she’s best watched today in hope she can make some sort of improvement on her second run since her op.
However, I like another big price here that could make an immediate impact after a wind op, For Pleasure.
The nine-year-old gelding is down to a dangerous mark having won two in a row last December and now has Sean Bowen on board to try and make all like this horse loves.
Love Talk
This listed contest is a great way to kick off the week with some top-class flat racing as the season steers towards the jumps.
Calla Lagoon is the favourite and has the form attached, having won just at Ascot on soft ground by a neck to Sea Plane who stormed home on his next appearance to help frank that form.
The Ralph Beckett-trained colt also went well on debut behind Yaroogh, who has gone on to win in listed company in France.
Love Talk is a much higher price at 7/2 as the filly ran with much more in the tank last time out at Goodwood on heavy ground, beating Miss Nightfall by nearly two lengths.
She’s not upped in the weights for that either and the step up in trip is encouraging.
She also placed close behind Arabie at Chantilly in a Group 3 so it could be hers for the taking if continuing to improve as things just seemed to click last time out after being somewhat outclassed in Group 2 company in August and listed company at Sandown in July.
The filly has 5lb given by the unexposed colt, but it could be worth it given her price.
Sophia’s Starlight
This filly is a huge price considering her performance at Newmarket last time out.
She’s upped only 2lb and appeals a lot after that soft ground win against other fillies.
The Grant Tuer-trained filly has drifted a touch in the market but now appeals as an each-way shot instead of a straight win.
Tom Lunn’s Profit/Loss
October ’24: +23.6
From May ’24: +165.62pts
From July ’23: +378.18pts
All odds correct at time of writing
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