Thursday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

FLYLIKEANEAGLE (best priced at 3/1) has improved on the flat since joining the Lucinda Russell stable and he should hold strong claims making his handicap debut over hurdles. The five-year-old has won four times in 2022 on the flat and has improved 17lb up from a mark of 53 up to a mark of 70. He had previously ran four times over hurdles for Eamonn O’Connell and makes his handicap debut over hurdles off a lowly mark of 94.

Given the improvement shown on the flat since joining the stable, Flylikeaneagle should prove hard to beat off this mark on his handicap hurdle debut.

Midnight Midge is interesting on his stable debut for Philip Hobbs but preference goes to the Nicky Henderson trained ILE DE JERSEY (best priced at 7/4). The lightly raced four-year-old won a juvenile hurdle on his stable debut last season before placing on his next two starts. He finished well beaten in a Grade 3 handicap hurdle on his final start last season but is interesting now making his chasing debut in novices’ handicap chase off a mark of 115.

Ile De Jersey gets a handy weight-for-age allowance and should prove hard to beat for the in-form Nicky Henderson stable who are currently operating at a 39% strike rate. 

Planned Paradise has the benefit of a recent run over Fawsleu Spirit and HARRY DU BERLAIS (best priced at 11/4) but preference goes to the latter who ran well on his chasing debut last season. The Nick Kent trained five-year-old disappointed in three novice hurdles last season but finished only 1/2 length behind Bob’s Bar when 2nd on his chasing debut at Bangor on his final start last season. That rival has been in good form since and is now rated 7lbs higher so Harry Du Berlais looks well handicapped off only 1lb higher.

Harry Du Berlais won his only PTP by 10 lengths so he should improve as a chaser and he should also appreciate this step up in trip to three miles for the first time; I expect him to get off the mark over fences at the second attempt.