Horse racing tips: Monday picks from Ross Millar

At last the rain has arrived, possibly in greater quantities than was required, which means the mud is flying and the racing finally has an authentic ‘winter’ feel about it.

At Haydock Park on Saturday, took the plaudits with a tremendously tenacious display to land a second Betfair Chase. I’ve long been a big fan of jockey and his beautifully quiet and efficient riding style was surely the deciding factor in this stamina-sapping contest. 

It’s an overused phrase but runner-up, Grey Dawning, genuinely lost nothing in defeat. I’ve been slow to warm to him and, to my cost, have opposed him on every one of his starts over fences. He impressed me here though, tanking through the race and jumping with real exuberance. While those traits ultimately saw his stamina give way in the final half-furlong, they will undoubtedly be to his advantage in the future, particularly if facing less of a stamina test.

In Ireland, Brighterdaysahead caused quite an upset when ending the domestic winning sequence of as she ran out a game winner of the Grade One Unibet Morgiana Hurdle. It was an excellent piece of placing by trainer Gordon Elliott and she’s clearly a smart mare. 

I won’t be getting carried away by the form, though - I think her race fitness was the advantage, and more telling here was the ease with which State Man closed on her before ultimately being unable to sustain his effort. Come Cheltenham, I’m sure this fine mare will be pitched back in against her own sex.

On Sunday, all of the focus centred on a brilliant John Durkan Memorial Chase and its stellar line up. It went the way of rising star Fact To File, who seamlessly stepped into open company and comfortably found the 9lb+ improvement required to land this Grade One prize. 

Fact To File must have a serious engine given his jumping was the most moderate of the first four home. Galopin Des Champs and Fastorslow, the eventual third and fourth, jumped with incredible speed and accuracy, yet the J P McManus-owned winner was able to effortlessly close onto their heels turning in before stylishly quickening clear. He was understandably tired inside the last half-furlong on his first start of the season yet found the reserves to repel the fast-finishing Spillane's Tower. Lets hope this collection of talented performers can all maintain fitness throughout the coming months; if they do, we’re going to be treated to some exceptional three-mile chases this season.

On Monday the Racing TV cameras are at Ludlow and Kempton Park, and I have selections from both tracks.

Touchwoodexpress showed very little in three starts over hurdles but has looked a revelation since switching to fences this season and I’d expect him to continue his upward trajectory and land this. 

He won very easily off a mark of 83 at on his seasonal return, impressing with his accurate jumping, and stayed on powerfully to win cosily. He ran well in defeat off a 7lb-higher mark next time when bumping into the in-form and well-handicapped at . That rival has since been narrowly touched off from 7lb higher in the ratings, suggesting the form can be trusted. 

Touchwoodexpress is 5lb higher now and that will demand more, but his amateur jockey Toby McCain-Mitchell claims 7lb and, going by his winning ride on at Ascot on Saturday, he’s exceptional value for that claim. 

A return to a right-handed track is also a minor positive as he did jump left on occasions at . 

This race shows that quality racing isn’t solely reserved for the weekends.

Iberico Lord and line up in this beginners' chase, with both sets of connections hoping that this race will provide the perfect introduction to chasing and ultimately a springboard to graded races later in the season.

Iberico Lord enjoyed a productive season in handicap hurdles last year, first landing the Greatwood Hurdle at before following up in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury. Both of those wins were over two miles, but it was his stamina over that trip that was his most valuable attribute and the extra two furlongs here is no problem at all. 

A more pertinent concern might be the forecast Good to Soft ground. Both of his hurdle wins were achieved on slow ground and these might not be his optimal conditions, yet the same is true of market rival Gidleigh Park. Given Iberico Lord is 6lb clear on official ratings it can rate only a very minor concern, and certainly not one that could be viewed as a legitimate excuse were he to get beaten.

Iberico Lord impressed last year with his neat and athletic jumping and I expect that trait to help him makeup into a vastly better horse over fences. has his team in good order and I’ll be bitterly disappointed if my novice chaser to follow for the season doesn’t land this.

I’m hoping Kabral Du Mathan will be well enough handicapped to land this before going onto better things. 

The British handicapper has had very little evidence to work on when fixing a handicap mark for this French import, given that he only has two starts to his name and has run only once on these shores.

That win came in impressive style at Huntingdon, where he looked classy as he breezed to the front on the home bend before displaying signs of inexperience when alone in front. Given that greenness, the winning margin of just a length and a half seriously underestimates his level of superiority over those in behind him. 

When you consider that both the runner-up and third-placed were both in receipt of 8lb and are rated 118 and 112 respectively, an opening mark of 123 looks lenient for Kabral Du Mathan. When you further add in that the excellent is still able to claim 3lb against fellow conditionals, you have to consider that he could be very well-weighted indeed. 

The only minor concern is that trainer is certainly leaving a bit to work on with a number of his debutants, though the ground at Kempton won’t be as testing as elsewhere in the country.