Steve Ryder Tuesday Racing Tips

The Tom Lacey trained IMMORTAL FLAME (best priced at 11-8) had shown very little in novice hurdles before springing a surprise on handicap debut to win at Uttoxeter. The six-year-old defied odds of 25/1 to win that day off an opening mark of 85 where he stayed on well over 2m4f to win by a widening 6 ½ lengths.

That was the first time that Immortal Flame had raced over further than 2 miles in his career to date and it is interesting that connections step him up further in trip to 3 miles for this race. The handicapper has raised him 9lbs for his victory which seems fair and I expect him to prove hard to beat if he is in the same form as 25 days ago.

There has been a lot of early money for NOW IS THE WINTER (best priced at 10-1) but I do feel his shorter price is still justified in this race. The eight-year-old won a bumper for Ben Pauling at Stratford in March 2019 where he had the 117 rated Fitzroy in second, the 106 rated Prussia With Love in third, the 128 rated Golden Taipan in fourth and the 128 rated Bells Of Peterborough in fifth. Since then he has disappointed on every start with form figures of PPP9P and even had a spell away from Ben Pauling with Anthony Honeyball for two runs.

Now Is The Winter now returns to Ben Pauling and makes his reappearance following 275 days off the track and is also fitted with first time blinkers. He is down to a mark of 76 so he is incredibly well handicapped based on his bumper effort and I feel he is worth taking a chance on in this weak contest.

Nicky Henderson has an embarrassment of riches in the 2 mile novice hurdling division this season and I feel RUSSIAN RULER (best priced at 6-4) could develop into another top class horse this season. The five-year-old won a Warwick bumper on his only start last season where he defeated his stablemate Surrey Quest by two lengths under Nico De Boinville.

Russian Ruler was a well backed 4/5 favourite that day and justified his short priced with an impressive victory over Surrey Quest who has since boosted that form by winning his first two starts over hurdles this season and earning himself a rating of 135. He faces smart flat performer Raymond Tusk in this race who chased home I Am Maximus at Newbury but I do think Russian Ruler has a touch of star quality and I expect him to prove hard to beat on his hurdling debut.