Monday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

Massini Man, Allo Allo and Knockamona all come into this race off the back of a victory but preference instead goes to EYRE SQUARE (best priced at 9/2) who makes his handicap debut in this race. The Gavin Cromwell trained eight-year-old finished 5th on his chasing debut at Wexford before finishing well beaten behind subsequent Grade 1 winner Gerri Colombe at Fairyhouse. He put in a career best performance at Down Royal to finish only 3 ¾ lengths behind Innovated in 4th and the handicapper has given him an mark of 105 following that performance.

Eyre Square runs here off a 10lb higher mark in the UK but crucially he is now fitted with first time cheekpieces. Hopefully these mean that his jumping will improve and if that is the case then I expect him to prove hard to beat under Jonathan Burke.

This looks a weak 0-105 handicap hurdle and I am willing to take a chance on the Dianne Sayer trained SIMPLE STAR (best priced at 16/1) at a big price. The five-year-old finished 2nd in two maiden/novice hurdles at Perth when trained by Iain Jardine before moving to the Dianne Sayer stable before his run last time. He finished well beaten on his handicap debut that day but raced too keenly in the early stages following 131 days off the track.

Furthermore, Simple Star came back lame after the race which gives him another valid excuse for his performance and it is worth noting how well he travelled into the race until the 3rd last hurdle. He runs here off top weight in this race and I think he can outrun his odds with four places on offer.

The Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero trained POST CHAISE (best priced at 5/2) has a fantastic record in handicaps with form figures of 123211. The six-year-old is unbeaten over fences having won his chasing debut at Hereford by 3 ½ lengths before following up off an 8lb higher mark last time at Huntingdon off a mark of 97.

Post Chaise won by 5 ½ lengths that day so he is deserving of his 9lb rise in the weights and he looks to be really progressive over the larger obstacles. Henry Brooke retains the ride on the grey gelding and he should be able to cope with this step up in class.