Wednesday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

The Jimmy Moffatt trained RAPID FLIGHT (best priced at 6/1) has significantly more experience over fences than his main rivals in this race and I expect that factor to mean he can win for a sixth time over the larger obstacles. The six-year-old has improved since joining from the Nicky Henderson stable with form figures of 121111U over fences for new connections. All of his victories came at Cartmel under Charlotte Jones but winning distances of a head, ½ length and 1 ¼ lengths show that the gelding only does enough at the finish.

Rapid Flight was sent off a 6/1 chance for the Edinburgh Gin Chase last time at Kelso but he unseated his rider at the first flight having been slightly hampered. He is rated 1lb higher than the odds on favourite Crystal Glory but has to concede him 10lbs so he faces a tricky task but I am hoping his superior experience over fences closes that gap.

This looks a competitive 0-120 handicap but preference goes to top weight FRINGILL DIKE (best priced at 3/1) who is unbeaten in his four starts at Hexham. The Jedd O’Keefe trained five-year-old won a bumper on his debut at Hexham before winning three novice hurdles over this course and distance by 6 ½ lengths, 9 ½ lengths and 16 lengths.

Fringill Dike finished a well beaten 7th when sent off favourite on his handicap debut last time at Cartmel but the handicapper has dropped him 1lb for that run and he will be well suited by this return to Hexham.

PANDEMIC PRINCESS (best priced at 9/4) nearly won on her stable debut for Alice Haynes earlier this month and she should be better suited by this track based on her running style. The three-year-old had previously shown good form at Dundalk when trained by Richard O’Brien with a win off a mark of 62 and a 2nd off a mark of 65.

Pandemic Princess finished only ¾ length behind Muscika at Chelmsford when held up in last place and she should be better suited by this track. The handicapper has raised her 1lb for that effort up to a mark of 65 which should still prove within reach and I expect her to prove hard to beat under Thore Hammer Hansen.