Tuesday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

Great Heart’jac has shown the best recent form out of the three runners but I am willing to take a chance on the Jonjo O’Neill trained FILE ILLICO (best priced at 7/2) at the prices. The eight-year-old has uninspiring form figures of PPP this season but as a result has dropped down from a handicap mark of 124 to 115. His form figures in fields with less than 7 runners reads 11311 so he clearly likes a smaller field and his last visit to Leicester resulted in a seven length win off this mark of 115.

File Illico followed up that course and distance success with a victory at Chepstow off a 5lb higher mark so he is clearly well handicapped on old form. His disappointing runs this season have been on soft ground so this return to a faster surface should suit and I expect him to put it up to the odds on favourite. 

The Evan Williams trained SABBATHICAL (best priced at 5/4) has won his previous two starts on good ground and he should hold strong claims of following up in this race. The eight-year-old won at Fakenham in November off a mark of 100 before outrunning odds of 9/1 to win 12 days ago at Leicester off a mark of 102.

The handicapper has raised him 5lbs for that victory up to a mark of 107 but that looks lenient for a 4 ¾ length success and I expect him to win for a fifth time over fences.

This looks a match between Getting Closer and SANTON (best priced at 11/8) and preference goes to the latter who finished ahead of his rival 12 days ago here. The Kelly Morgan trained eight-year-old raced keenly over the 2m6f trip that day so this faster pace at 2m4f should suit him and he can also improve with how he jumped in comparison to last time too.

Santon finished 2 ½ lengths ahead of Getting Closer last time and I am surprised that he isn’t favourite for this race under regular rider Meisha Micklewright.