Steve Ryder Monday Racing Tips

Paul Nicholls’ runners often show improved form when graduating from bumpers to going over hurdles and I feel PETROSSIAN (best priced at 5/2) will prove hard to beat on his hurdling debut. The five-year-old won on his debut in a bumper at Newbury in November last year on good ground when he didn’t have to come off the bridle to win by 7 ½ lengths showing that he should relish these conditions. 

Petrossian slightly disappointed when only 6th behind Jonbon on his next start at Newbury under a penalty but he has had a wind operation since that run. Paul Nicholls won with a similar type called Flemenstide at Ascot on Saturday and I feel Petrossian is overpriced to beat Call Of The Wild who was beaten at odds on at Stratford on his hurdling debut last month.

This is another three-runner race where I feel there is value in the market and I feel that is with the Dan Skelton trained ROCKSTAR RONNIE (best priced at 5/2). The six-year-old has to concede a 6lb penalty to his two rivals in this race but I was really impressed with his course and distance win here 14 days ago. 
Rockstar Ronnie made all under Bridget Andrews that day to win by 4 ¼ lengths in a handicap chase and despite now going back into novice company, he should be able to beat Sebastopol and Atholl Street who both have question marks to answer over fences. I expect Rockstar Ronnie to get an easy lead in this race and hopefully that puts the jumping of his rivals under pressure.