Steve Ryder Friday Racing Tips

The form of the Paul Nicholls trained SKATMAN (best priced at 3/1) is working out well and an opening mark of 122 is expected to underestimate him. The six-year-old won a strong Irish PTP at Dromahane beating the 143 rated Barbados Buck’s and 147 rated chaser Lieutenant Rocco before finishing 8th in an Ascot bumper that included the likes of Soaring Glory, Kid Commando and Bravemasngame. 

Skatman has returned this season with victories at Musselburgh and Newton Abbott and even that lasted victory has been boosted since with the second Yggdrasil winning on chasing debut at Bangor and the third winning on his next start at Warwick. Skatman was given an opening mark of 122 but as a result of those form boosts the handicapper has decided to raise him 3lb but that isn’t effective in this race so he runs 3lb “well in” in this race. Lorcan Williams is one of the best conditional jockeys in the race and takes off a further 3lb and he should prove hard to beat. 

It feels like the Paul Nicholls trained MAGIC SAINT (best priced at 3/1) should be a lot older than seven years old as he has become a standing dish in these 2-mile handicap chases but I feel he should hold strong claims of repeating his victory in this race last season. He won this contest off a mark of 152 with Bryan Carver claiming 5lb and this year he is back down to the same mark but this time with Angus Cheleda claiming 5lb. 

Magic Saint always needs his reappearance run so his 7th placed effort at Wetherby can be ignored (finished 8th on his reappearance last season) and he should prove hard to beat off top weight. 

DIESEL D'ALLIER (best priced at 6/1) won this race easily as a six-year-old in 2019 off a mark of 125 and despite now being rated 12lb higher, his experience in cross country races should mean he is hard to beat keep out of the frame. Following his victory in this race, he went on to finish 4th behind Easysland and Tiger Roll at the festival off level weights whereas he now returns to this handicap in receipt of loads of weight from the favourite Balko Des Flos.

Balko Des Flos will no doubt be targeted at the Grand National once again in April so I don’t expect him to be fully tuned for this however, I expect Richard Bandey to have Diesel D’Allier ready for this race as an early-season target. With up to five places available on the race, he looks a confident each way selection.

The Martin Keighley trained BRONSON (best priced at 9/1) gained some vital course and distance experience here in a maiden hurdle last time and he looks attractively handicapped off an opening mark of 117. He ran well in two bumpers at Southwell finishing 2nd both times behind Nicky Henderson trained favourites before finishing 3rd at Bangor on his hurdling debut following 148 days off the track. The winner hasn’t run since but the 2nd Stream Of Stars ran well to finish 3rd on his next start and the 4th Unexpected Party won by 8 lengths on his next start and is now rated 120. 

Brorson was only beaten ¾ length by the Gordon Elliott trained Top Bandit over this course and distance last time despite still looking green at the finish and he looks well handicapped off an opening mark of 117. He has been well backed on both of his starts over hurdles so far so I imagine connections will feel that is an attractive opening mark and he should run well with up to six places available on the race.