Steve Ryder Friday Racing Tips

The Donald McCain trained GOOBINATOR (best priced at 7/4) fell when sent off favourite for a Class 2 handicap at Bangor but he should be able to bounce back in this Class 3 contest. He had previously been in good form on the flat winning at York and Haydock before finishing 4th in the Cesarewitch Handicap at Newmarket. 

Goobinator was a well-backed 13/8 favourite last time at Bangor in a race that featured the likes of Hunters Call and Llandinabo Lad where he was still travelling well when falling 3 out. He runs here off the same mark in a weaker contest so I expect him to prove hard to beat with the yard still in good form.

Following a fall in the Ladbrokes Trophy only 13 days ago, I do feel this may come too soon for Enrilo and I will happily take on the favourite with two selections in this race. 

The first is COMMODORE (best priced at 4/1) for Venetia Williams who is well known for being able to get her horses ready fresh and this nine-year-old comes here on his first run for 309 days and has had a wind operation in that time. He finished only ½ length behind Snow Leopardess on his reappearance last season so we know he goes well fresh and that rival is now rated 21lbs higher than that contest. Commodore runs here off only 2lb higher and should run well. 

The second selection in the race is the Irish raider MISTER FOGPATCHES (best priced at 6/1) who comes over having finished 3rd in the Troytown Handicap Chase at Navan last time. That looked a good renewal of the race this year with the talented Gigginstown duo Run Wild Fred and Farclas finishing 1st and 2nd with Mister Fogpatches finishing only ½ length behind the previous Cheltenham Festival winner. He runs in the UK off a 3lb higher mark than his Irish mark but that doesn’t often stop them winning at the Cheltenham Festival so he is also expected to run well against the favourite.  

The Philip Hobbs trained NO COMMENT (best priced at 9/4) got off the mark over fences on his thirteenth attempt under Sean Houlihan earlier this season and should run well back in a similar contest off only 2lb higher. That victory came at Huntingdon off on his first run in a Veterans’ race where he travelled strongly to win comfortably by five lengths. 

No Comment finished 3rd last time at Fakenham when back in novice company where he just got outpaced over the 2m5f trip but steps back up to 3 miles in this race and should prove hard to beat back in the company of veterans. 

The Gary Moore trained BOTOX HAS (best priced at 7/1) has always been a horse who I thought would be suited by a step up to three miles so it seems significant they attempt that in a valuable Cheltenham contest. Connections attempted to go novice chasing this season but having jumped poorly on his reappearance he returned over hurdles last time in the Greatwood Hurdle when an eyecatching 8th despite being badly outpaced over the 2-mile trip.

It is worth remembering that Botox Has beat Allmankind in a handicap hurdle here in October last year off a 2lb higher mark so he is clearly well handicapped, should be suited by this step up to 3 miles and is also fitted with first-time cheekpieces. He should go well with four places on offer.