Wednesday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

This looks a competitive four runner handicap chase but a chance is taken on ROUGE VIF (best priced at 7/4) who has struggled for form recently. The eight-year-old was one of the Brooks horses who moved from Harry Whittington to Paul Nicholls at the start of the jumps season but he struggled in Grade 1 and Grade 2s behind the likes of Nube Negra, Mister Fisher and Greaneteen. 

Rouge Vif now drops into a handicap for the first time since his impressive 7 ½ length victory at Cheltenham in October 2020 when he won off a mark of 156. The handicapper has given a chance off a rating of 149 in this race and he looks worth backing with Harry Cobden choosing him over stablemate Eritage. 

Despite being drawn in Stall 12 for this race, I think it is worth backing ROUNDHAY PARK (best priced at 16/1) given his good record at this track. The Nigel Tinkler trained seven-year-old finished 2nd over 6f here in August 2020 off a mark of 79 before winning in September 2021 off a mark of 82 over this distance of 7f.
Roundhay Park has been lightly raced since that victory but made an encouraging reappearance when only beaten 2 ¼ lengths at Beverley last month. Faye McManoman once again rides the gelding claiming 3lbs and he should run well with four places on offer. 

COAL STOCK (best priced at 6/4) had struggled for form so far this season but was an impressive winner on his stable debut for Colin Tizzard last time and he should prove hard to beat despite a 10lb rise. The seven-year-old was previously rated 117 in October but had plummeted down the weights to a rating of 103 last time following three below-par runs when trained by Harriet Brown.

Coal Stock won easily at Chepstow 32 days ago by 12 lengths despite a couple of jumping errors and he is well-deserving of a 10lb rise from the handicapper. Harry Kimber claims 6lbs off him in this race and I expect him to make it 2/2 for the Tizzard stable.