Sunday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

This looks a competitive renewal of this Grade 3 Novice Chase but the horse I feel is overpriced is the Noel Meade trained THEDEVILSCOACHMAN (best priced at 4/1). The seven-year-old is the top rated over hurdles with a mark of 152 and he has run well on his four starts over fences. He got off the mark over fences in October when he beat Churchstonewarrior by 1 ¾ lengths before falling at the last in the Drinmore Novice Chase last time when finding 2m4f too sharp.

Thedevilscoachman has the best piece of form on offer when beating Ashdale Bob by a head in the Grade 2 Boyne Hurdle last season and that rival has further enhanced his form this season finishing 2nd in the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown behind Home By The Lee. Both Ramillies and Chemical Energy are prominent in the National Hunt Chase market but I feel Thedevilscoachman may prove classier than those rivals and he can win this on his return to this extended trip.

Recent course winner Socks Off will no doubt prove popular in this 0-105 handicap but I fancy the second that day BASFORD (best priced at 11/4) to reverse form with him. The Jennie Candish trained six-year-old was well beaten in three novice hurdles before showing a lot more on his handicap debut last time. He only finished 2 ½ lengths behind Socks Off that day off a mark of 99 and the handicapper has raised him 3lbs for that effort.

The handicapper raised Socks Off 6lbs for his victory which means that Basford has a 3lb swing in the weights in this race and connections have also fitted Basford with first time cheekpieces for this race. He is a lot less exposed than Socks Off and I feel that Basford should be favourite to reverse that form.