Monday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

The Max Young trained THE FECKENHAM FOX (best priced at 7/1) had looked regressive over hurdles before getting off the mark in impressive style on her debut over fences last time. The eight-year-old was 0-7 over hurdles with form figures of 077FP77 but has won her only start over fences so far.

That victory came in December at Fakenham over 2m5f off a mark of 80 where The Feckenham Fox won impressively by 28 lengths. The handicapper has raised her 9lbs for that but this is still a 0-110 handicap and I expect her to run well if she is fit enough after 316 days off the track. 

This looks a competitive novices’ handicap chase but preference goes to the Charlie Longsdon trained MIDNIGHT JEWEL (best priced at 9/4) who has shown good form over fences so far in 2022. The six-year-old has form figures of 1211F this season with his latest four starts coming over fences. He won by a length at Fontwell off a mark of 100 before following up at Bangor by 3 ¼ lengths off a 5lb higher mark.

Midnight Jewel still had a narrow lead last time when falling at the last at Stratford off a mark of 110 and the handicapper has raised him 2lbs for that effort. His experience over fences should give him an advantage over chasing debutants Mackelduff and Highstakesplayer and I expect him to run well once again under Lilly Pinchin.

The Martin Keighley trained BEN BUIE (best priced at 6/4) is a previous course and distance winner who has had the form of his latest run boosted by the winner. The eight-year-old won a novices’ handicap chase over this course and distance last season off a mark of 87 and he runs in this race off a 2lbs lower mark. He has been running well on his latest starts in July with form figures of 332 with his latest 2nd behind Blaze A Trail receiving a notable form boost.

The winner Blaze A Trail, who beat Ben Buie by 4 ½ lengths, has won his next four starts since in impressive style and that rival is now rated 26lbs higher. Ben Buie returns from 95 days off the track off the same mark and he should prove hard to beat under the in-form Sam Twiston-Davies who has won six of his last twelve rides.