Steve Ryder Saturday Racing Tips

This looks a match race between the unexposed Green Brook and the proven CHTI BALKO (best priced at 5/2) and preference goes to the latter who has shown his best form at Haydock on ground soft or heavy. With those conditions, the Donald McCain trained gelding has form figures of 1412321 with his latest victory coming in this race last season. 

Chti Balko won this race easily under Theo Gillard 12 months ago by 26 lengths on heavy ground off a mark of 135 and he now looks extremely well handicapped off a mark of 129. Last year he finished last of 6 in his prep run at Bangor but was much better this year at Wetherby on his first run after a wind operation when he finished 3rd of 6 at Wetherby. The handicapper has been generous by dropping him 2lb for that effort and I expect him to prove extremely hard to beat with conditions to suit off a career low mark.

It wouldn’t be a 3 mile handicap chase at Ascot without me tipping REGAL ENCORE (best priced at 11/1) each way and I can’t resist backing him again in this race. He won this race in 2016 off a mark of 144, won it in 2019 off a mark of 142 before finishing 3rd in this race last year off a mark of 150. He was generously dropped 2lb by the handicapper for his run at Warwick last time so he runs in the race this year off a mark of 146 so he looks well handicapped. 

Regal Encore once again showed he saves his best efforts for this track when 3rd over this course and distance on his reappearance off a mark of 149 in the London Gold Cup. With up to five places available on the race I find it hard to see him out of the frame again and will happily back him each way in this race.

The Tom Symonds trained LLANDINABO LAD (best priced at 14/1) has been quite disappointing since finishing 2nd at this meeting last season but the form of that race is working out well and he is now becoming attractively handicapped. He finished 2nd behind My Drogo in the Grade 2 Kennel Gate Novices’ Hurdle who went on to win the Grade 1 at Aintree by nearly 10 lengths, the third Soaring Glory won the Betfair Hurdle and the London Handicap Hurdle on his reappearance and is now rated 149 and the fourth No Ordinary Joe is favourite for this race in receipt of 4lb from Llandinabo Lad. 

It is worth remembering that in that race Llandinabo Lad also had a Grade 2 penalty for his victory at Haydock so he is actually 1lb better off with the favourite in this race. He finished 2nd behind Hunters Call on his reappearance this season at Bangor but that rival has boosted that form by nearly winning the International Hurdle last weekend and I feel he is worth backing each way with five places on offer.