Sunday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

The Jessie Harrington trained BOPEDRO (best priced at 3/1) has won off 130 and 202 day breaks since arriving in Ireland and he should prove hard to beat on his reappearance. The six-year-old is top rated in this field with a rating of 107 which puts him 5lbs higher than the favourite Lust with the pair racing here off level weights.

Bopedro won twice last season including the valuable Irish Cambridgeshire handicap off a mark of 94 by 2 ½ lengths before finishing 6th only beaten 2 ¼ lengths on his final start last season in a listed race. He is expected to run up to his rating on his reappearance given his good record fresh and I expect him to prove hard to beat.

It was just over a year ago that ÉCLAIR DE BEAUFEU best priced at 28/1) finished a close 4th in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival off a mark of 139 and he now races in this Grade B handicap off a mark of only 125. Granted that is because the Gordon Elliott trained eight-year-old has been really disappointing recently but the handicapper has given him a big chance by dropping him 10lbs since his last run in Ireland (7lbs lower than last time at Perth).

With up to five places available on this race I think it is worth taking a small chance that Éclair De Beaufeu can bounce back to form with Jack Kennedy back on board.

The Aidan O’Brien trained NEW YORK CITY (best priced at 13/8) has looked really progressive on his two starts this season including when defeating the reopposing Straight Answer in a listed race last month. He didn’t win a race as a juvenile but he always ran with credit and may have just needed the winter to fulfil his potential.

New York City made no mistake getting off the mark in a maiden at Navan on his reappearance when winning by seven lengths before defeating Straight Answer by a length at Navan in a listed race 22 days ago off level weights. New York City had the benefit of race fitness that day but it was an authoritative victory and I expect him to confirm form with that rival.