Monday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

This looks an extremely competitive novice handicap hurdle but preference goes to the bottom weight REALISM (best priced at 12/1) who runs here carrying only 10-4. The Joseph O’Brien trained four-year-old was a smart flat performer for his Father who received a rating of 103 following his 3rd placed finish behind two-time Group 1 winner Luxembourg in the Group 3 Royal Whip Stakes in August.

Realism was only sent off 4/1 to make a winning hurdling debut against Blood Destiny (favourite for the Grade 2 Juvenile Hurdle on the card) but he disappointed and he has been well beaten on his next two hurdling starts since. He has been given an opening handicap mark of only 109 which could mean he is incredibly well handicapped and I expect him to be well backed for this race. 

Both Willie Mullins and Mark Walsh (5-8) have been in fantastic form recently and I am hoping the pair can combine to win this Grade 2 Juvenile Hurdle with TEKAO (best priced at 5/1). The four-year-old won a Leopardstown in December before finishing an eyecatching 3rd at the Dublin Racing Festival in February.

Tekao was extremely well backed to win the Boodles Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival when sent off 3/1 favourite but he jumped terribly throughout the race and eventually finished well beaten. Going back into a small field should suit him better than the hustle and bustle of a 21 runner handicap and he should be involved in the finish.

It was noteworthy how well backed ANGELS BREATH (best priced at 7/2) was on his return from 1121 days off the track last time that a much improved effort is expected. The nine-year-old was a top class horse for Nicky Henderson who won both of his chase starts in 2019 including a Grade 2 by 23 lengths.

Given that Angels Breath was sent off only 4/1 for the Grade 2 Silviniaco Conti Chase at Kempton in January and that he still held an entry for the Gold Cup at that stage, he must have been working well at the Sam Thomas stable prior to that run. He now has his sights lowered and he looks worth backing on his handicap debut off a mark of 147 at the prices.

Willie Mullins has the top two in the market for this race and I am going to side with EASY GAME (best priced at 9/4) who has won this race for the previous two years. The nine-year-old won this race in 2021 beating Castlegrace Paddy by ¾ length before following up in it last year beating stablemate Cilaos Emery by 7 ½ lengths. Since that victory he has form figures of 111011 with his only defeat coming in the Galway Plate in July.

Easy Game has a fantastic record fresh (won this race following a 68 day break and 158 day break) so the fact he has had a 191 day break since his Grade 2 success at Gowran Park is a positive and I expect him to prove hard to beat.