Steve Ryder is back with three selections for today's action with two runners at Ffos Las and one at Ludlow.
16:15 Ffos Las
Only four runners contest this novices’ handicap chase with all of them in with a chance but preference goes to the Nicky Henderson trained VALSHEDA (best priced at 5/4). The lightly-raced seven-year-old has only raced four times under rules with one victory over hurdles in March last year.
Valsheda fell on his chasing debut at Newbury in December before finishing a close 2nd at Kempton last month when only beaten 1 ½ lengths by Killer Kane. That rival has since won off a 6lb higher mark and is now rated 11lbs higher than when they met in February so a 3lb higher mark for Valsheda could seriously underestimate him.
16:40 Ludlow
The Philip Hobbs trained COOLNAUGH HAZE (best priced at 9/4) receives plenty of weight from his rivals as the only four-year-old in the field and he should get back to winning ways. He finished 3rd on his hurdling debut at Warwick in December before winning at Plumpton in January by three lengths on good ground.
Coolnaugh Haze finished 3rd on his handicap debut at Ludlow off a mark of 111 on soft ground and he gets to run here off the same mark. Crucially, this return to good ground should suit him well and I expect him to prove hard to beat off only 10-2.
16:50 Ffos Las
The application of a first-time tongue-tie can hopefully mean that DICEY RIELLY (best priced at 7/2) can get off the mark at the seventh attempt. The Peter Bowen trained five-year-old finished 3rd on her hurdling debut over 2m4f here in February before finishing 4th on her next start at Wincanton earlier this month.
The handicapper has given Dicey Rielly an opening handicap mark 104 which could underestimate her in this race. She has finished weakly in her races so far in her career that hopefully this first-time tongue-tie will improve that finishing effort and she should run well.
