Wednesday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

Although he has been well backed overnight, I still feel it is worth backing GOLDEN GAL (best priced at 7/1) in this 0-60 apprentice handicap. The Ollie Pears trained four-year-old ended last season in disappointing fashion but now returns from 183 days off the track following a wind operation. 

Golden Gal defied odds of 50/1 to make a winning return last season over this course and distance before finishing a close 2nd later in the season off a mark of 59 under Harry Russell. He has since dropped down to a mark of 57 so he is well handicapped and I expect him to run well with up to four places available. 

Many of the five runners are open to improvement but the Jonny Portman trained HIGHLAND FLYER (best priced at 14/1) looks overprices on his handicap debut. The three-year-old son of Highland Reel finished down the field in three 1 mile novice races last year but has since been gelded over the winter. 

Highland Flyer returns from 190 days off the track on his handicap debut and is now upped in trip to 1m4f for the first time. Connections have also fitted him with first time cheekpieces and I don’t feel as if he deserves to be outsider of the field. 

Gaelic Warrior no doubt sets the standard with a rating of 152 but I am not convinced that he will relish this 3 mile trip and preference instead goes to AFFORDALE FURY (best priced at 6/1) who outran odds of 150/1 to finish 2nd in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. The Noel Meade trained five-year-old won his only PTP before winning a bumper in impressive style at Galway. He got off the mark over hurdles over 2m6f before falling at the last at Navan in a Grade 3 novice hurdle in November. 

Affordale Fury finished 6th in the Grade 1 Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle in January before relishing the step up to 3 miles at the Cheltenham Festival last time. If he can repeat that run again then he should hold strong claims of upsetting the favourite.