Sunday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

Several of these juvenile hurdlers come here following recent runs on the flat and the standard is set by Good Heavens (best priced at 13/8). The Joseph O’Brien trained gelding was an impressive Leopardstown maiden winner at the age of two and he has continued his progression this season on the flat.

Good Heavens finished a neck 2nd in the Irish Cambridgeshire at the Curragh on his penultimate start earning him a rating of 101. That puts him 12lbs higher than stablemate Nusret on the flat and that should mean he is hard to beat on his hurdling debut.

It is interesting that Gordon Elliott pitches Minella Crooner straight into Grade 2 company on his chasing debut but preference goes to the more experienced Idas Boy (best priced at 11/8). The Noel Meade trained eight-year-old won by 14 lengths on his chasing debut at Cork last month before finishing a close 2nd over the same course and distance last time when finishing only ½ length behind El Barra in a Grade 3.

That form sets the standard over fences and I expect Idas Boy to win this before stepping up into Grade 1 company over Christmas.

Willie Mullins has won this race 10 times in the previous 11 years and he holds strong claims this year with three of the five runners. The market is favouring the chances of State Man who is ridden by Paul Townend but I think the price discrepancy between himself and two-time winner Sharjah (best priced at 9/4) is too big. The nine-year-old won this race in 2020 and last year when upsetting stablemates Faugheen and Echoes In Rain.

Sharjah returns here from 326 days off the track but this will have been an early season target and I expect him to win it for a third time under regular jockey Patrick Mullins.