Steve Ryder Saturday Racing Tips

The Donald McCain yard remain in good form currently and I feel GREDIN (best priced at 7/2) can defy a penalty to win this competitive looking novice hurdle. The five-year-old ran well to finish 2nd in an Irish PTP in April before justifying favouritism to win at Carlisle on his hurdling debut. He looked extremely professional that day where he showed a good attitude to win by 1 ½ lengths from Operation Overload who won on his next start and is now rated 118.

Gredin faces some interesting rivals in this race but this is Westwood Ryder’s hurdling debut following 194 days off the track and Top Of The Bill jumped poorly on his hurdling debut at Lingfield last month. Preference therefore goes to the Donald McCain trained runner who can make it 2/2 over hurdles.  

Ronan McNally landed “a gamble” with Vee Dancer at Hereford last time but he was niggled along for the majority of that contest and I wouldn’t be rushing to back him at 1/3 despite running here without a penalty. Preference instead goes to the top-weight TERRIERMAN (best price 9/2) who comes here following a good 2nd at Exeter a month ago. He finished only ¾ length behind the progressive Tip Top Cat who has since won again by four lengths and is now rated 12lb higher and a neck in front of Bean In Trouble who won on his next start and is now rated 5lb higher. 

Terrierman is only rated 5lb higher than that run so he looks well handicapped and I expect the Tom Lacey trained seven-year-old to put it up to the favourite in this race. 

The Tom Gretton trained KAUTO RIKO (best priced at 9/2) has a great record fresh and he should hold strong claims in this race with Brian Hughes in the saddle. He has won following 248 and 250 day breaks in the past and has also finished 2nd in the Peterborough Chase following a 269 daybreak and 4th in the Paddy Power Gold Cup following a 247 daybreak. 

Brian Hughes has a superb record on the horse with form figures of 12311131 in his career and the handicapper has been generous in dropping Kauto Riko down to a mark of 142 following a below-par effort in the Topham where he didn’t enjoy the Grand National fences. He is well handicapped off that mark as his latest victory came off a mark of 147 and I expect him to make a winning reappearance in this race.