Monday tips: Mark Rowntree's three best bets

Ran well on penultimate start at Ripon but did himself no favours by refusing to settle at Hamilton subsequently.

Competitively handicapped, even more so when factoring in the 5lb claim of Jack Nicholls, he’s a live candidate in a race which is restricted to ‘non-winners’ in 2026.

His course and distance form figures on ground described as Good or faster read 2,6,1, and he has already demonstrated that he can be a force to be reckoned with when asked to stride on and make all.

Didn’t appear to relish the undulations at Hamilton last time when chasing home Karl Burke’s Delinquent, who has since posted a pleasing effort (fifth; 28-1) in the Class 2 Silver Bowl Handicap at Carlisle.

Returning to a sharp, flat track should suit this low mileage 3yo, this slightly longer trip (dam a 1m2f winner) within range. His previous Doncaster second to Silver State (now rated 90) reads particularly well, with Toastmaster (fifth) the latest winner to emerge from that race at Doncaster on Saturday evening.

Daler bounded clear in added cheekpieces at Leopardstown last time and, with a fair amount of rain in Ireland last week, Ger Lyons will doubtless be hopeful that the ground remains on the easier side of Good come race time at Ballinrobe.

A 7lb rise demands more but, in all likelihood, this Dark Angel gelding possesses more ability than these rivals.

His previous run at Naas (seventh) was in a race dominated by stablemates Jagged Edge and Far From Dandy, the former 12thof 28 in the Royal Hunt Cup since, and the latter previously competitive in top-level handicaps, namely the Irish Lincolnshire and Doncaster’s Spring Mile.