Wednesday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

Idealdes Villerets ran well on his hurdling debut last time but at the prices I prefer the claims of The Sam Thomas trained DEERE MARK (best priced at 10/3). The five-year-old beat the now 131 rated Lallygag in a bumper at Hereford in March before running well to finish 2nd on his hurdling debut at Cheltenham in October.

Deere Mark disappointed in the Grade 2 Sharp Novices’ Hurdle on his next start but this represents a huge drop in class down to a Class 4 novices’ hurdle and I expect him to get off the mark at the third attempt over hurdles.

Both American Sniper and LALLYGAG (best priced at 11/10) set a high standard but preference goes to the Paul Nicholls trained gelding who has run well on all three of his starts over hurdles. The five-year-old has form figures of 212112 for the stable including two easy victories at Exeter.

Lallygag finished a close 2nd under a double penalty at Exeter last time when only beaten 1 ¼ lengths by Grey Dawning who still holds a Cheltenham festival entry.  He was still entered in the Kennel Gate Novices’ Hurdle until the meeting had to be abandoned so he is clearly thought of as graded standard and I expect him to beat American Sniper, who is rated 5lb inferior, off level weights.

This looks a competitive 0-105 handicap hurdle but preference goes to THE HEIGHT OF FAME (best priced at 10/3) who bids to win her fifth race in a row. The Keiran Burke trained five-year-old started her winning sequence in May off a mark of 79 and she is now rated 26lbs higher. She won by 1 ½ lengths last time at Exeter in November and the handicapper has raised her 6lbs for that success.

The Height Of Fame looks extremely progressive and should be well suited by this step up in trip to 3 miles and I expect her to prove hard to beat once again.