Wednesday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

This looks a competitive novices’ handicap chase but preference goes to the Rebecca Curtis trained EASKEY LAD (best priced at 11/2) who comes into the race following a victory over fences last time. The seven-year-old had previously run with credit on his first two starts over fences when 4th at Worcester and 3rd at Plumpton but put in a career best performance last time at Uttoxeter when getting off the mark over fences. 

Easkey Lad won by an eased down 3 ½ lengths last time off a mark of 86 and the form of that run has been boosted by the runner-up Flying Verse winning by 9 ½ lengths on his next start. The handicapper raised Easkey Lad 9lbs for his victory but has since increased this based on collateral form and therefore runs here 2lbs “well in” at the weights. He receives nearly two stone from Autonomous Cloud who makes his chasing debut and that should be enough to swing things in Easkey Lad’s favour.

The Nicky Henderson trained MORNING LINE (best priced at 9/4) is well related and can make a winning debut in this race. The four-year-old is a full brother to Impervious who won her first three starts in Ireland and is now rated 132 and a half brother to Dame De Fortune who finished 3rd on her only start in a bumper before making a winning hurdling debut at Worcester in August. 

JP McManus has bought Morning Line and sent him to Nicky Henderson who has a good record in bumpers and I expect him to make a winning debut with Jonjo O’Neill Jr booked for the ride.