Monday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

Jalapa is interesting on her handicap debut in first time blinkers but she has shown very little on her three starts so preference goes to the consistent OBAMA ARMY (best priced at 7/2) instead. The Jack Channon trained three-year-old has form figures of 42212 in handicaps over trips between a mile and 1m2f including a neck victory at Bath off a mark of 60.

Obama Army finished ½ length behind the winner Star Start last time at Carlisle off a mark of 61 and runs here off only a 1lb higher mark. Connections fit the gelding with first time cheekpieces and hopefully he should prove hard to beat in this race.

Both Faerie Cutlass and Malina Ocarina are respected following their wins last time but I am willing to take a chance on BLITZ SPIRIT (best priced at 25/1) at a big price. The Alex Dunn trained five-year-old was previously rated 74 on the flat following four runs for Andre Fabre but has a now dropped down to a rating of only 75 over hurdles following some below par efforts.

Blitz Spirit ran well on her penultimate start to finish only 6 ¾ lengths behind the winner at Fontwell off a mark of 82 before disappointing at Wincanton in November. She now returns from 207 days off the track following a wind operation and it is also notable that she is fitted with a first time tongue tie and first time blinkers. Hopefully a combination of the headgear, a break, a wind operation and a dropping handicap mark can mean she can get off the mark over hurdles at the seventh attempt.

This looks a competitive 0-105 handicap hurdle but preference goes to HAVING A BARNEY (best priced at 7/2) who was inconvenienced by a loose horse when a beaten favourite last time. The Mark Walford trained six-year-old has been running consistently well in handicaps this year with form figures of 31263 including a victory in March off a mark of 80.

Having A Barney was sent off 5/2 favourite at Southwell last month over 2m4½f but he was hampered by a loose horse just before the 2nd last hurdle before staying on well to finish 3rd at the finish. This step back up in trip to three miles will suit him and I expect him to prove hard to beat off the same mark of 83.