Steve Ryder Monday Racing Tips

The Oliver Sherwood trained CILAOS GLACE (best priced at 11/4) got off the mark over this course and distance last time and should hold strong claims off a 6lb higher mark. The nine-year-old has form figures of 121 at Fontwell with his impressive 7 ½ length success coming 62 days ago. Despite his wide margin success, the gelding didn’t jump well during the contest so there is still room to improve in terms of his overall performance.

Cilaos Glace eased clear under Tom Cannon that day and he should prove hard to beat off only a 6lb higher mark.

The favourite Zabeel Champion will no doubt prove popular on his handicap debut given his high-class flat form but preference instead goes to the more experienced MALPAS (best priced at 10/3) who has had the form of his latest start boosted recently. The seven-year-old finished only ¾ length behind the Laura Morgan trained Socialist Agenda at Catterick on New Year’s Day with the pair pulling 27 lengths clear of the third. The winner has since followed up in a handicap hurdle off a mark of 118 by 4 ¼ lengths and that makes Malpas look extremely well handicapped off a mark of 113.

The Donald McCain yard are in good form currently with a strike rate of above 30% and I expect Malpas to prove hard to beat back in handicap company.  

Many of these mares have question marks to answer in this handicap chase but preference goes to the Lucy Wadham trained BRANDISOVA (best priced at 5/2) who looks interesting on her handicap debut. The six-year-old has looked outpaced over intermediate trips in her career so far but now steps up in trip to 3m2f in this race. 

Brandisova finished 2nd at Warwick last time over hurdles but has the look of a chaser and is interesting switched the fences on her handicap debut. She has been given an opening mark of 102 which looks workable and she looks worth taking a chance on under very different conditions.