Steve Ryder Friday Racing Tips

The well-bred DOCTOR KEN (best priced at 11/8) made a really encouraging hurdling debut at Aintree last time and a repeat of that performance should be good enough to win this race. The Olly Murphy trained five-year-old got off the mark at the third attempt in a bumper last season at Market Rasen when he eased clear by 3 ½ lengths. 

Doctor Ken contested a strong maiden hurdle at Aintree last time when he finished 3rd over 2m4f behind the impressive winner Gelino Bello who has gone on to finish 2nd in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham on his next start. The jumping of Doctor Ken let him down that day so hopefully, that will improve from the experience and he should prove hard to beat for the in-form Olly Murphy yard who are currently operating at a 30% strike rate in the previous two weeks.

Smarty Wild is respected going back right-handed in this race but preference instead goes to the Nigel Twiston- Davies trained GUY (best priced at 9/4) who comes here following a career-best performance on his reappearance. The six-year-old is only 1-9 in his career but is incredibly consistent over fences with form figures of 12342 since going chasing. 

Guy finished only two lengths behind Senior Citizen at Market Rasen on his reappearance off a mark of 125 and that rival has since boosted the form with a close 2nd in the Grand Sefton at Aintree and is now rated 10lb higher. The handicapper has raised Guy 2lb which is fair and he should once again be involved in the finish for the resurgent Nigel Twiston-Davies yard.

This looks a strong novices’ handicap hurdle but the style in which HIDDEN DEPTHS (best priced at 11/4) won last time at Hereford means that he is the selection despite a 7lb penalty. The Neil Mulholland trained six-year-old won at Hereford under Sam Twiston-Davies in October before benefitting from an exaggerated hold-up ride from Tom Scudamore last time to win by 3 ½ lengths 10 days ago.

The handicapper has raised Hidden Depths 9lbs for that impressive victory but he instead runs here under a 7lb penalty which makes him 2lb “well in” at the weights. I am sure Sam Twiston-Davies will use the hold-up tactics employed last time and he should prove hard to beat if in the same form.