Monday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

The Jennie Candish trained HAPPY HOLLOW (best priced at 12-1) has a consistent profile over hurdles with form figures of 33241422P5 with his only two disappointing efforts coming on his latest two starts. He had previously won off a mark of 120 last season before finishing 2nd off the same mark at both Hexham and Bangor this season.

The handicapper has dropped Happy Hollow down to a mark of 115 for this race so he has given the ten-year-old a chance and I am hoping that the addition of first time cheekpieces will perk the gelding up.

The Stuart Coltherd trained ARD CHROS (best priced at 9-2) is well handicapped on his previous form and bounced back to form last time with a victory at Ayr. His previous victories came off marks of 115 and 110 in 2020 before placing off marks of 110 and 106 last year.

Ard Chros’ victory in November 2020 came in first time cheekpieces and it is interesting that connections now replace those with first time blinkers despite him bouncing back to form last time. He victory came off a mark of 97 at Ayr when he won by 1 ½ lengths and he should hold strong claims off a 5lb higher mark.

There is no doubt that the 101 rated Witch Hunter sets the standard in this novice race but he is returning from 142 days off the track and I feel it may be worth taking a chance on CITYJET (best priced at 4-1) instead. The Marytn Meade trained gelding finished 2nd on his debut over this course and distance in December when he was only beaten a length by a more experienced 4/7 favourite. The pair pulled 1 ¾ lengths clear of the third that day and he has since won a novice race at Southwell to boost the form.

Banana is only rated 82 but is fitted with first time cheekpieces on his stable debut for Scott Dixon but I expect Cityjet to prove the main danger to the favourite.