Sunday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

The Jonjo O’Neill trained IRON BRIDGE (best priced at 4/1) is currently unbeaten in his three starts under rules and he looks the type to continue progressing now switched to chasing. The six-year-old won a bumper in Ireland for Damian Murphy before being purchased by the late Trevor Hemmings and transferred to Jonjo O’Neill. He then won a maiden hurdle at Ffos Las beating the well regarded Bill Baxter by 2 ½ lengths before following up at Worcester in a novice hurdle under a penalty when victorious by 22 lengths.

This is a hot race for Iron Bridge to make his handicap and chasing debut in but he looks full of potential for connections whose horses usually progress with age.

Both Bear Ghylls and Beauport are respected in this race on their chasing debuts receiving weight but preference instead goes to the Donald McCain trained MINELLA DRAMA (best priced at 13/2) who was an impressive winner of a Grade 2 Novice Chase last season. The seven-year-old is incredibly consistent with form figures of 22211212125142 in his career including two wins over fences.

Minella Drama won the Grade 2 Patrick Coyne Memorial Altcar Novices’ Chase at Haydock last season by 9 ½ lengths before finishing 4th and 2nd in Grade 2 novice chases after under a penalty. He won by 8 ½ lengths on his reappearance last season so he has a good record fresh and I expect him prove hard to beat for an in-form yard.

The Noel Meade trained MOUNT BROWN (best priced at 3/1) ran well on his reappearance at Tipperary and he should hold strong claims off only 1lb higher with first time cheekpieces added. The five-year-old won a Wexford maiden hurdle last season by 4 ¼ lengths before finishing a close 2nd at Limerick on his next start when only beaten by ½ length.

Mount Brown ran with credit to finish 7th at the Punchestown festival in a competitive handicap hurdle before returning from 157 days off to finish 3rd on his reappearance. Connections now fit Mount Brown with first time cheekpieces and hopefully that will bring enough improvement for him to win this race off only a 1lb higher mark.