Steve Ryder Saturday Racing Tips

The performance of REGAL ENCORE (best priced at 10/1) in the Silver Cup over this course and distance last time was a rare below-par effort and the fact he has had a wind operation since means I can happily forgive him that effort. The thirteen-year-old has form figures of 1332 in this race for the previous four years and the handicapper has been extremely generous in dropping him 6lbs for his effort last time. 
Regal Encore has either won or placed off marks of 146, 145, 150, 150 and 149 in the previous two years so he is well handicapped off a mark of 140 and should run well with four places still on offer. 

Another thirteen-year-old who I think holds strong claims today is BLAKLION (best priced at 17/2) who has put in impressive performances on his two latest starts at the course. The former RSA Chase winner had tumbled down the weights and took advantage of a mark of 131 to win at Veterans’ Chase over 3m1f here on heavy ground in December. 

Blaklion then defied a 5lb rise to win by an easy 28 lengths from Welsh National runner-up The Two Amigos over this trip on heavy ground in a magnificent performance. The handicapper has raised him 9lbs up to a mark of 145 now but he is still well handicapped on old form and will relish these conditions. The likes of Bristol De Mai, Sam Brown and Lord Du Mesnil also have form at the course on this ground but preference goes to Blaklion who arrives in form.

Although a short price for this race, I do feel GOOD RISK AT ALL (best priced at 15/8) is almost certain to be rated 135+ at the end of the season so I have to back him here off a mark of 127. The six-year-old won a listed bumper at Cheltenham last season before defeating the 138 rated pair I Like To Move It and Gelino Bello in a listed bumper at Newbury in February under a penalty. He has finished 2nd on all three of his starts over hurdles so far including a 2nd placed effort behind Jonbon but this step up to nearly 2m4f will really suit him based on his latest run. 

That Warwick race looks a strong contest with Barrichello and Washington and I think a 3lb rise for Good Risk At All is very fair and it would surprise me if he were beaten.

This looks a really competitive renewal of the Grade1 Ascot Chase and although I respect the chances of the favourite Fakir D’Oudairies, preference instead goes to SAINT CALVADOS (best priced at 4/1). The nine-year-old ran really well on his stable debut in the King George VI Chase when his fitness on his first run for 323 days just appeared to catch Gavin Sheehan out. He made a bold move around the outside of the field on the home turn to take up the running but just emptied in the final couple of furlongs to finish 3rd. 

That was his first run for Paul Nicholls since joining from Harry Whittington but he has loads of back class having finished 2nd in the Ryanair Chase when only beaten a neck by Min in 2020. This drop in trip back to 2m5f should be perfect for him and I expect him to run extremely well with Harry Cobden taking over.