Tuesday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

The Micky Hammond trained DESARAY GIRL (best priced at 7/4) won at Ayr a week ago and should hold strong claims off a 4lb lower mark. The seven-year-old mare has plummeted down the handicap the past year from a mark of 123 down to a mark of 99 before winning a conditional jockeys’ mares handicap hurdle last week under Emma Smith-Chaston.

Desaray Girl runs here off a mark of 94 so she is actually 4lbs lower than her 1 ¾ length victory last week and Emma Smith-Chaston can claim her full 7lb allowance in this race. She goes up in class from a 0-100 to a 0-120 handicap but she looks the most likely winner off this mark.

Gigginstown House Stud dominate the rearranged Grade 2 Ten Up Novice Chase this year and preference goes to the Gordon Elliott trained FAROUK D'ALENE (best priced at 13/8). The seven-year-old defeated subsequent Albert Bartlett winner Vanillier in a Grade 2 Novice Hurdle last year on heavy ground before making a winning chasing debut on his reappearance this season at Navan over an inadequate 2m4f. He was beaten a short-head at Limerick over Christmas by Master McShee over 2m4f but put in a career-best performance last time when 2nd behind Stattler in a Grade 3 Novice Chase at Naas over 3m1f. 

Farouk D’Alene finished only 1 ¼ lengths behind the current National Hunt Chase favourite that day with the pair pulling 17 lengths clear of Vanillier back in third. His main danger appears to be stablemate Run Wild Fred who won the Troytown Handicap Chase earlier this season before finishing 2nd in the Grade 1 Neville Hotels Novice Chase last time. He will be suited by the extra distance in the National Hunt Chase but I feel Farouk D’Alene will have too much speed for him over this 3-mile trip. 

The Gordon Elliott trained RAGNAR LODBROK (best priced at 14/1) is well handicapped in comparison to his form over hurdles and he can hopefully bounce back from a disappointing effort at Down Royal last time. The seven-year-old won a maiden hurdle at Galway last season before finishing runner-up in a listed hurdle at Cork and a Grade 3 at Cork both over a trip of 3 miles. He finished 6th only beaten 4 ½ lengths at Fairyhouse in a big field handicap hurdle in April off a mark of 128 and that makes him look well handicapped over fences.

The handicapper gave Ragnar Lodbrok an opening mark of 119 over fences and he ran a lot better in blinkers and upped to 2m7f for the first time over the larger obstacles when 2nd at Punchestown behind Lord Lariat. He has been raised 2lbs for that effort and was sent off favourite last time at Down Royal but his jumping let him down and he eventually finished 6th beaten 32 lengths. If he repeats his effort from Punchestown on his penultimate effort then he looks a big price here with Jack Foley taking off a handy 5lbs.