Saturday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

This looks a competitive 0-130 handicap hurdle but preference goes to the Ben Pauling trained FINE CASTING (best priced at 11/4) who was an impressive winner last time. The seven-year-old has a consistent record over hurdles  with form figures of 62114231 in eight runs including victories at Ffos Las, Newbury and Haydock last time. 

Fine Casting won impressively by 11 lengths at Haydock in December off a mark of 123 and he should prove hard to beat despite an 8lb rise from the handicapper.  

Willie Mullins and JP McManus have the favourite for this race in the shape of Dinoblue but I feel stablemate ELIMAY (best priced at 11/4) is overpriced to repeat her victory from last year. The nine-year-old was disappointing on her reappearance last season when beaten at 2/5 so it is no concern that she needed the run again this season when only 4th at Clonmel behind stablemate Dolcita.

Elimay still went on to win the Grade 2 Mares’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and I expect her to repeat her victory in this race last year under Paul Townend. 

Novices have a good record in the Betfair Hurdle and I am willing to take a chance on the Sam Thomas trained DEERE MARK (best priced at 16/1) this year. The unexposed six-year-old beat the 132 rated Lallygag in a bumper last season and has run well in three of his four runs over hurdles so far. He finished 2nd at Cheltenham in a maiden hurdle before disappointing on his next start at the same course.

Deere Mark bounced back with a comfortable victory at Hereford in a novice hurdle before winning on his handicap debut last time at Kempton off a mark of 119. The handicapper has raised him 6lbs for that victory which is fair and I expect him to run well with six places widely available.