Sunday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

Paul Nicholls last won this race in 2018 with Frodon when he was six and he will be hoping he can repeat that this year with HITMAN (best priced at 5/2) who runs in the race at the same age. He was a high class novice chaser a couple of years ago but had a slightly disappointing season last year when he failed to win during the campaign. He still ran with credit behind the likes of Eldorado Allen, Greaneteen and Funambule Sivola before finishing 2nd behind Fakir D’Oudairies in the Melling Chase at Aintree on his final start last season.

Hitman drops back into handicap company in this race off a mark of 159 and I expect him to prove hard to beat off top weight.  

REAL STEEL (best priced at 20/1) is currently a reserve for this race but he is incredibly well handicapped and looks worth backing in the hope that he gets a run. The nine-year-old was previously rated 166 when trained by Willie Mullins before struggling for Paul Nicholls over the last couple of years. He changed ownership over the summer and is now in training with Emmett McNamara where he ran with credit on his stable debut when 4th at Listowel on his reappearance.

That run came off a mark of 130 and Real Steel would run here off the same mark if getting a run. The step back up in trip from 2m6f to 3 miles would suit and he looks worth backing with bookmakers offering up to six places on the Munster National. 

The Michael O’Callaghan trained FACETHEPUCKOUT (best priced at 7/2) has won his previous two starts in impression style and he is expected to complete the hat-trick under a 7lb penalty. The six-year-old left the stable in 2020 rated 81 but returned back from Leanne Breen rated only 53 two seasons later. He finished a close 3rd on his return before winning impressively over this course and distance off a mark of 54 on his penultimate start. 

Facethepuckout followed up under a 7lb penalty five days later to win by six lengths at Gowran Park and he now bids to complete a quick fire hat-trick before the handicapper reassesses his mark. Colin Keane takes back over on board which is a positive and he should prove hard to beat from Stall 1.