Sunday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

This race looks like it will be fought out between recent course and distance winners Gonfalonier and Keepthefaithinme (best priced at 9/4) with preference going to the latter. The Gordon Elliott trained six-year-old has improved since the application of cheekpieces as shown when outrunning odds of 66/1 to finish 3rd at Down Royal on his penultimate start under the inexperienced 7lb claimer Georgie Benson. 

Keepthefaithinme won last time over this course and distance by 13 lengths under 5lb claimer Corey McGivern and the handicapper has raised him 10lbs for that victory. Main market rival Gonfalonier won by 12 lengths over this course and distance last time but has gone up 12lbs for that success so I feel that may swing it in the favour of Keepfaithinme in this race. 

The Mark McNiff trained Red Ball Of Fire (best priced at 5/2) has won both of her starts at Sligo over jumps and has also run with credit on her two starts here on the flat. The five-year-old won here over hurdles in October off a mark of 102 before finishing a close 2nd at Down Royal last month when only beaten ¾ length off a mark of 107. The handicapper has raised her 2lbs for that effort which is fair and she comes here having run well on the flat here 19 days ago. 

Red Ball Of Fire was only beaten a length when 3rd over 1m2f here and I expect her to prove hard to beat switched back to hurdles at this course. 

The Eddie Lynam trained Collective Power (best priced at 5/1) has shown improved form on his previous two starts since the application of a visor and I am hoping he can defy a career high mark in this race. The four-year-old finished 2nd beaten only ½ length at Cork in a first time visor last month before winning at Down Royal last time under a confident ride from Mikey Sheehy.

Collective Power only won by ¾ length at the finish last time but it could have been a lot bigger distance and he is deserving of a 6lb rise by the handicapper. Connections have once again booked Mikey Sheehy for the ride who can claim 3lbs in this race and I expect him to run well once again.