Friday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

The Jonjo O’Neill trained SOARING GLORY (best priced at 8/1) has a fantastic record fresh and he should outrun his odds on his chasing debut. The seven-year-old has form figures of 11111 following runs after more than a 50 day break including victories over Bravemansgame in a novice hurdle and a Betfair Hurdle win.

Soaring Glory won on his reappearance last season off a mark of 143 and is only 4lbs higher here in this novices’ handicap chase. He finished only 2 ½ lengths behind Epatante in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton last year before finishing 5th in the Betfair Hurdle so he comes into this race with strong pieces of form from last season and hopefully he can make another winning reappearance.

This looks a competitive 0-140 handicap chase but preference goes to the Donald McCain trained MACKENBERG (best priced at 11/4) who is unbeaten is his four starts over fences. The seven-year-old won three small field novice chases last season before pulling up in a Grade 3 handicap hurdle at the Aintree Festival in April.

Mackenberg showed a good attitude when making a winning reappearance this season at Ayr by a head off a mark of 137 and he should hold strong claims off 3lbs higher. Theo Gillard’s 3lb claim negates his 3lb rise so he shouldn’t overburdened off top weight and I expect him to remain unbeaten over fences.

The Jamie Snowden trained CORNICELLO (best priced at 6/4) runs here from 4lbs “well in” at the weights and he should hold strong claims of following up his comfortable success at Wincanton. The four-year-old won at Plumpton in October off a mark of 102 before finishing a close 2nd at Hereford off a 1lb higher mark.

Cornicello won a conditional/amateur jockeys’ novices’ handicap hurdle last time at Wincanton by 5 ½ lengths earning him a 6lb rise up to a mark of 109. He instead runs here off a mark of 105 meaning he is 4lbs “well in” at the weights and I expect him to follow up with Sam Twiston-Davies back on board.