Friday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

The Philip Hobbs & Johnson White trained CAMPROND (best priced at 13/2) went into the Coral Cup this year with form figures of U4B08 but ran a remarkable race to finish 3rd beaten only ½ length. For the second year in a row, the seven-year-old had the ground turn soft on the day of the race (finished 4th in 2022) but he should have the perfect ground conditions today.

Camprond won at the Punchestown Festival on yielding found on his next start after Cheltenham last season off a mark of 137 and he comes here off only a 6lb higher mark. He looks sure to run well in this race with bookmakers offering up to seven places. 

Luccia is no doubt better than she showed in the Mares’ Novice Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival but preference instead goes to the Oliver McKiernan trained NO LOOKING BACK (best priced at 9/1) who has shown some good form over hurdles so far this season. The five-year-old defied odds of 25/1 to win on his debut in a Thurles bumper before running well to finish 4th in a valuable sales bumper at Fairyhouse on his next start. He won on his hurdling debut at Thurles before beating former Cheltenham Festival winner Brazil in a Grade 2 hurdle at Limerick on his next start. 

No Looking Back was only beaten 1 ¼ lengths by Irish Point last time in a Grade 3 Novice Hurdle at Naas under a penalty and even a repeat of that effort would see him involved in the finish of this race. His trainer has a good record when bringing horses over the UK (Follow The Plan won the Grade 1 Aintree Bowl in 2012 at 50/1) and I expect him to run well with four places on offer. 

The Dan Skelton trained ASHTOWN LAD (best priced at 8/1) has a good record at Aintree and hopefully he can complete a memorable Becher Chase- Topham Chase double. The nine-year-old was finished 3rd on his reappearance at Aintree over hurdles before winning the Becher Chase in December off a mark of 138 by 2 ¼ lengths. He has run twice since over hurdles to protect his chase mark for this race and he will no doubt be spot on for this race. 

Ashtown Lad runs here off a 6lb higher mark than his Becher Chase success but his proven stamina is a huge positive as is his experience over these Grand National fences. Bookmakers are offering up to seven places on this race and he should be staying on best of all at the finish.