Saturday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

Milton Harris trained Knight Salute to win this race last year and he looks to hold strong claims this year with SCRIPTWRITER (best priced at 7/4). The four-year-old ex Ballydoyle gelding won his first two starts over hurdles for new connections before finishing a close 2nd last time at Cheltenham. He won by 2 ¼ lengths at Sedgefield before beating the reopposing Perseus Way by 2 ¼ lengths in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham. 

Scriptwriter won by a head back on the flat at Wolverhampton before finishing 2nd at Cheltenham in the Grade 2 Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle. Paddy Brennan was left in front a long way from home and he was only ran down by Comfort Zone late on by 3 /4 length and I would expect him to reverse form on another day. He is top rated in the field with a rating of 132 and I expect him to get back to winning ways in this race. 

Many of the horses in this race are struggling for form but that is not the case for Nicky Henderson’s progressive QUICK DRAW (best priced at 6/4) who has won his previous two starts over fences. The seven-year-old returned this season with a 2nd placed finish over this course and distance in November before winning by ¾ length at Uttoxeter on his next start off a mark of 113. 

Quick Draw defied a 6lb rise to win easily by 7 ½ lengths over this course and distance last time off a mark of 119 in the style of a really progressive horse. The handicapper has raised him 8lbs which is fair and I expect him to complete a hat-trick of wins. 

The Alan King trained BIT HARSH (best priced at 5/4) is 3/3 in handicaps on the all-weather and has been transformed by the application of cheekpieces. The four-year-old ran with credit in novice races last season before disappointing on his turf debut at Yarmouth in October. He defied odds of 22/1 to win by 1 ¼ lengths at Chelmsford over 1m2f in first time cheekpieces before dead heating over the same course and distance on his next start. 

Bit Harsh won over 1m4f at Wolverhampton on his next start off a mark of 71 staying on in good style shaping like this step up in trip to 1m5f would suit him well. A 5lb higher mark will make it trickier but I expect him to make it 4/4 in cheekpieces.