Tuesday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

The Fergal O’Brien trained HURRICANE HARVEY (best priced at 7/2) is extremely well handicapped on his old form and should be able to take advantageous of dropping into a Class 4 0-120 handicap for the first time. The eight-year-old’s last victory was in the Grade 2 December Novices Chase at Doncaster two years ago where he achieved a peak rating of 144.

Hurricane Harvey has struggled since then but as a result has dropped all the way down to a mark of 120 over hurdles and he showed a lot more zest when finishing 8th at Cheltenham last time. He stayed on well late on that day over 2m5f shaping like this step back up in trip to 3 miles would suit and he looks worth backing now dropped in class. 

This looks a competitive novice hurdle but a chance is taken on the Jonjo O’Neill trained INCH HOUSE (best priced at 6/1) who is making his debut under rules in this race. The five-year-old won his only PTP start for Sam Curling where he beat future stablemate Are U Wise To That by two lengths. The form of that run has been boosted by the runner-up winning his two starts under rules including a Uttoxeter maiden hurdle by 5 ½ lengths. 

Neither Ernest Gray or Hitching Jacking set an unreachable standard based on their previous hurdle starts and I expect Inch House to run well with this trip of 2m4f looking sure to suit.

The Venetia Williams stable have bounced back to form recently and that means a chance is taken on TANGANYIKA (best priced at 5/1) who has so far disappointed on both of his starts for new connections. The four-year-old was a winner over hurdles in France last year before finishing 3rd behind Porticello in a juvenile hurdle at Haydock on his UK debut in February.

Tanganyika was beaten 57 lengths on his reappearance at Ascot when the stable were in poor form but as a result he was been dropped 4lbs down to a mark of 116 by the handicapper. He drops in grade from a Class 2 to a Class 4 0-115 and I expect him to run well off top weight.