Monday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

This looks a competitive handicap hurdle but preference goes to the Gavin Cromwell trained TYRE KICKER (best priced at 6/1) who is fitted with cheekpieces for the first time. The five-year-old ended last season with a victory over this course and distance before running well on his three starts so far this season. He finished 4th on his reappearance at Down Royal before finishing 3rd at both Punchestown and Aintree.

Tyre Kicker finished a six length 3rd at Aintree last time off a mark of 107 and he gets to run back in Ireland off a 10lb lower mark of 97. Connections fit him with first time cheekpieces and he should run well with up to six places on offer. 

Galopin Des Champs will no doubt prove hard to beat on his reappearance here but I feel that his stablemate HAUT EN COULEURS (best priced at 10/1) is overpriced in the ‘without’ market. The Willie Mullins trained five-year-old beat subsequent Grade 1 winner Gentleman De Mee on his chasing debut by 5 ½ lengths before chasing home Edwardstoen and Blue Lord in Grade 1s on his final two starts last season.

This will be the first time Haut En Couleurs has been stepped up in trip to 2m4f and he is interesting given his form fresh. He finished a close 3rd in the Triumph Hurdle after 169 days off before winning on his reappearance last season after 240 days off. He returns here after a 235 day break and I feel he could upset Fakir D’Oudairies, who was well beaten in this race last year, and chase home his stablemate. 

ZEALOT (best priced at 5/4) failed to land a gamble on his first start for new connections when beaten a nose at Southwell but he should be better suited by this return to Kempton. The four-year-old was having his first start for Michael Appleby last time having been bought by The Horse Watchers out of the Eve Johnson Houghton stable. 

Zealot won impressively over this course and distance by five lengths in September before finishing a close 3rd over this course and distance off a mark of 59. He runs here off the same mark and should prove hard to beat with William Buick taking over in the saddle.