Saturday Racing Tips From Steve Ryder

Both The Last Mardi and Uncle Phil (best priced at 15/8) are making their hurdling debuts in this race but preference goes to the latter based on bumper form. The Willie Mullins trained five-year-old finished 2nd on his debut at Kilbeggan before winning on his second start by 14 lengths in impressive fashion. 

Uncle Phil failed to give over a stone to Country Queen at Bellewstown on his next start but that was still an improved effort. Bryan Cooper now takes over on his first start over hurdles and I expect him to prove hard to beat.

The William Haggas trained Soulcombe (best priced at 4/1) has shown improved form since being gelded and fitted with blinkers and I expect this step up in trip to suit him well. The three-year-old won at Haydock by 3 ½ lengths off a mark of 68 before winning at Ascot off a 6lb higher mark by 1 ½ lengths. 

Soulcombe was slowly away last time at Goodwood which put him on the back foot over 1m4f where he stayed on well to finish a closing 4th off a mark of 81 and he should be suited by this step up in trip to 1m6f off only a 2lb higher mark. 

The Jessie Harrington trained Discordantly (best priced at 9/1) has been a huge eyecatcher on his previous two starts and I expect him to run well in this race in a first time visor. The eight-year-old finished a close 2nd at Punchestown on his penultimate start off a mark of 142 before finishing 6th in the Galway Plate last time. 

Discordantly was slowly away at the start and detached early before staying on well on the run in to finish 6th. His regular cheekpieces are replaced by a first time visor and hopefully Denis O’Regan can get him to race more prominently in this race and if that is the case then he should run well off the same mark with up to five places on offer.