Steve Ryder Monday Racing Tips

The five-year-old PERRYVILLE (best priced at 7-4) outran odds of 25/1 to finish 2nd in a maiden hurdle at Down Royal last year and was subsequently sold for £20,000 at the Doncaster sales in September. He has joined the Mel Rowley stable and connections have found a weak maiden hurdle for him to make his UK debut.

Perryville finished only a head behind Aldo The Apache last time at Down Royal and that rival has since boosted the form with two further wins over hurdles (now rated 130) with the third One For Joe also winning a maiden hurdle by seven lengths since. He faces the Paul Nicholls trained Kayf Taoi here but that rival disappointed when sent off favourite at Ffos Las in October and looks vulnerable on his hurdling debut so preference instead goes to Perryville.

All five runners have a chance in this 0-130 handicap but preference goes to the Sam Thomas trained POWERSTOWN PARK (best priced at 7-4). The nine-year-old won three times over hurdles last season but put in a career best on his penultimate start when victorious over this course and distance off a mark of 115. The gelding defied odds of 18/1 to win by 7 ½ lengths that day when upped in trip from 2 miles to 3m1f for the first time over fences.

The handicapper raised Powerstown Park 10lbs for that victory but he disappointed at Market Rasen on Boxing Day when pulled up under Bridget Andrews. Lorcan Williams, who rode him to victory on his penultimate start, is back on board here and he should prove hard to beat.

The six-year-old Stratagem is the least exposed on these hunter chasers but he has to concede race fitness to a high class hunter chaser in COUSIN PASCAL (best priced at 10-3). He won at Catterick in March 2021 by 12 lengths before winning the Foxhunters’ Hunters Chase at the Aintree festival despite being sent off 66/1.

Cousin Pascal returned to win a PTP at Revesby Park in November and despite the ten-year-old getting turned over at 1/4 at Charing last month, he should prove hard to beat if bouncing back to form here. Regular rider James King is back on board for this race which is a positive and I expect him to put it up to the favourite here.