Saturday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

Paul Nicholls is a superb target trainer at these valuable Saturday handicaps and DANNY KIRWAN (best priced at 13/2) looks to hold strong claims of improving that record. The ten-year-old’s attitude was questioned early in his career but he has found a consistent level over the past two seasons. He won a 2m5f handicap here in March last year off a mark of 130 in impressive style by 3 ¾ lengths before finishing 2nd at Kempton over 3 miles off a mark of 133.

Danny Kirwan finished 2nd on his reappearance over this course and distance when 2nd in the London Gold Cup off a mark of 133 where he was too keen early under Lorcan Williams. Hopefully Harry Cobden can settle him better today and I expect him to hold strong claims despite racing off a 3lbs higher mark with up to five places available.

The Charlie Johnston trained JILLY COOPER (best priced at 5/1) was unlucky not to win over this course and distance yesterday and she would hold strong claims if being allowed to take her chance today. The four-year-old filly has been running consistently well on the AW with form figures of 3132 since Christmas and she deserves to take her chance upped in class.

Jilly Cooper was only beaten a short head yesterday when she didn’t get the clearest of runs throughout the race and she would be expected to win that race if it were run again. She gets to run here off the same mark here and I expect her to prove hard to beat.

This looks a competitive 0-65 handicap but preference goes to the Julie Camacho trained NICKLEBY (best priced at 10/3) who bounced back to form last time to win over this course and distance. The four-year-old was having his first run after a wind operation and also his first run in a visor when he won by 1 ¼ lengths 15 days ago.

The handicapper has raised him 5lbs for that victory but the winning distance doesn’t tell the whole story. Nickleby clipped heels and stumbled during the early stages of the race but stayed on well under Jonny Peate to lead close to the finish. If the visor works for a second time then he should prove hard to beat off this mark with Jonny Peate retaining the ride.