Thursday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

The David O’Meara trained HORTZADER (best priced at 7/2) drops into a 0-80 handicap for the first time in his career and he should prove hard to beat with his impressive course record. The eight-year-old has form figures of 1311 over this course and distance in his career including in April last year off a mark of 91.

Hortzadar lost his way at the end of the year but as a result has now dropped down to a mark of 80 and that means he now drops into a Class 4 0-80 handicap for the first time. Mark Winn takes off a further 3lbs in this apprentice race and I expect him to prove hard to beat.

The Venetia Williams trained PINK LEGEND (best priced at 13/8) has outrun odds of 33/1 to finish placed in the Mares’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival for the previous two seasons and a repeat of those runs will be good enough to see her win this race. The nine-year-old finished only ½ length behind Elimay in last year’s renewal before finishing 3rd behind Impervious this season.

Pink Legend won a Mares’ listed chase in February by five lengths over Kissesforkatie and she is deserving of her handicap mark of 142. With her proven course form and the fact she has winning form on good ground, she should prove hard to beat in this race.

I tipped SECRET SAUCE NAP (best priced at 15/8) last time on his handicap where he was extremely well backed but failed to handle the bend at Bellewstown at the end of the back straight. The Fozzy Stack trained three-year-old still stayed on well to finish 2nd pulling three lengths clear of the third. He had previously finished well beaten in three maidens over shorter trips but ran better over a mile trip in first time cheekpieces on handicap debut.

This more conventional track should suit Secret Sauce and connections have also fitted the gelding with first time blinkers and also upped him in trip again to 1m1f. Mark Enright takes over from a 3lb claimer and he should prove hard to beat despite a 4lb rise from the handicapper.