Friday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

The Michael Scudamore trained SOME CHAOS (best priced at 4/1) has a good record fresh as well as a good record at this course and I feel he will prove hard to beat in this Veterans’ Chase. The eleven-year-old won by seven lengths on his reappearance in 2018, finished 4th in a novice hurdle at Cheltenham in 2019, finished 3rd at this meeting in 2020 in a handicap chase off a mark of 140 before winning this race on his reappearance last year off a mark of 139.

Some Chaos runs in this race off a mark of 138 this year and despite coming into this race following a poor effort last time, he had exactly the same preparation last year. Regular rider Ben Poste is back on board and I expect him to prove hard to beat with The Mighty Don, who is a previous course and distance winner, looking the biggest danger. 

The Eve Johnson Houghton trained RAGE OF BAMBY (best priced at 7/2) lost her unbeaten record last time in the Rockfel Stakes but she should get back to winning ways in this weaker contest. The daughter of Saxon Warrior progressed from a debut victory at Newbury to follow up under a penalty at Leicester by 3 ½ lengths in impressive style. 

Rage Of Bamby was leading the Group 2 Rockfel Stakes last time 1f out before weakening into 3rd late on having paid the price of trying to go with the impressive winner Commissioning. She has a rating of 102 following that run and if she runs up to that form then she should prove hard to beat.   

Iain Jardine has a good record when coming over to Ireland over jumps with a 50% strike rate in the previous five years and I expect GLEN AVA (best priced at 9/4) to prove hard to beat off a much lower mark over fences than hurdles. The six-year-old joined the stable earlier this year from Claire O’Connell where she was rated 84 over fences and 94 over hurdles. She has form figures of 411122 over hurdles on her runs for the stable and has improved 15lbs up to a mark of 109 over the smaller obstacles. 

Glen Ava now returns back to Ireland off a mark of 84 over fences which makes her look extremely well handicapped and I expect her to prove hard to beat with J J Slevin a good booking for her.