Wednesday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

Venetia Williams has chosen to avoid the big Irish two in the Turners Novices’ Chase and run L’Homme Presse (best priced at 7/2) over the 3 mile trip in this race and I feel she will be rewarded for making that decision. The seven-year-old is unbeaten in his four starts over fences including an impressive Grade 2 victory at Cheltenham in the Dipper Novices’ Chase on New Year’s Day. He followed up in the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase last time by an impressive 21 lengths with subsequent Grade 2 winner Pic D’Orhy a further 6 lengths back in third.

Bravemansgame has been impressive over fences so far this season but has slight question marks about the track following his tame finishing effort in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle last season and I feel L’Homme Presse could outstay him up the hill.

The Philip Hobbs trained Camprond (best priced at 8/1) hasn’t been seen since an eyecatching run in the Greatwood Hurdle 122 days ago and I am hoping the patience of JP McManus will be rewarded in this race. The six-year-old finished 4th in the Greatwood Hurdle but the form is working out well with the second Adagio pushing Goshen close in the Grade 2 Kingwell Hurdle last time, the 5th Tritonic winning a valuable handicap at Ascot on his next start, the 6th Glory And Fortune winning the Betfair Hurdle, the 7th Marie’s Rock winning a listed race last time and even the 8th Botox Has winning the Grade 2 National Spirit Hurdle last time.

Camprond has remained unchanged off a mark of 140, is 2/2 over intermediate trips and also brings strong course form into the race; he looks a very strong each way contender with up to eight places available.

Reigning champion Tiger Roll looks a worthy favourite for this race given his experience of the course but I am willing to take a chance on his stablemate Delta Work (best priced at 6/1) who is fascinating contender if he takes to this discipline. The nine-year-old is a five-time Grade 1 winner over fences and is also a previous Cheltenham Festival in 2018 when he won the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle. He finished a close 4th behind Frodon, Galvin and Minella Indo at Down Royal on his reappearance before slightly disappointing at Leopardstown in Grade 1s on his next two starts. This represents a huge drop in class and from videos of him schooling it appears that he has taken to this new discipline well. He may not be able to cope with Tiger Roll over this specialist track under his optimum conditions but I cannot see him out of the five places that are available on the race.

The Joseph O’Brien trained Embittered (best priced at 12/1) was sent off 9/2 favourite for this race last year only to fall when still travelling well. He is an experienced second season novice chaser who won a couple of novice chases in August and October including a Grade 3 at Punchestown. Since then, connections have appeared to want to look after his mark by running him behind the likes of Riviere D’Etel and Blue Lord and as a result the handicapper has dropped him down to a mark of 140 in Ireland.

The UK handicapper has added 5lbs onto the Irish mark of Embittered so he runs off a mark of 145 in this race but that is still 1lb lower than in this race last year and he should run well if he gets a clear round this year.