Steve Ryder Tuesday Racing Tips

The Donald McCain yard remain in fantastic form with 26 wins and 48 places from their previous 80 runners and I expect STEINKRAUS (best priced at 6-5) to prove hard to beat here off a 7lb higher mark. The six-year-old returned this season with a couple of below par efforts in maiden hurdles before finishing a neck second behind Near Kettering on his handicap debut at Carlisle off a mark of 95. The two pulled 6 ½ lengths clear of the third that day and the gelding defied a 5lb higher mark to win at Ayr on his next start.

Steinkraus won by 3 ¼ lengths at Ayr last time with a further 12 lengths back to the third so a 7lb rise from the handicapper seems very fair. That was the first time he had stepped up in trip to 2m3f and he stayed on well at the finish shaping like this further step up to 2m5f will suit this PTP runner-up well. Recent course and distance winner Hidden Depths looks the biggest danger but he has been raised 4lb for winning by a nose last time so preference instead goes to the Donald McCain trained runner.

None of the four veterans running in this race inspire a huge amount of confidence coming into this race but NO COMMENT (best priced at 5-2) has the best recent form on offer courtesy of his 2nd placed effort at Worcester in September. The Philip Hobbs trained ten-year-old is currently 0-12 over fences but this does represent his easiest task for a while.

No Comment finished 2nd over 2m4f at Worcester on his penultimate start off a mark of 125 when outpaced by the winner late on shaping like this step back up to 3 miles would suit him well. His latest effort when 5th of 7 at Uttoxeter was a much stronger contest and he was only beaten 6 lengths at the finish by the progressive pair Lord Accord and Ask A Honey Bee. His main danger appears to be Kilfilum Cross on his first run since a wind operation and in a first time visor but I expect No Comment to finally get off the mark over fences in his first Veterans’ Handicap.

All three runners at the top of the market are running in first time cheekpieces in this race but preference goes to the Ian Williams trained DYNALI (best priced at 9-2) who is dropping down in class despite finishing 2nd last time. The five-year-old finished only a length behind Imphal last time and that rival has won again on his next start at Fontwell.

That contest was a Class 4 0-110 handicap but Dynali now drops into a Class 5 0-100 handicap off the same mark as his 2nd place last time. The 65 rated flat performer is still well handicapped on his form on the flat and he should also appreciate this slight drop back in trip. With four places on offer, he looks sure to run well in first time cheekpieces.