Wednesday Horse Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

Fidelio Vallis will no doubt prove popular on his second start for Harry Derham but preference instead goes to Cedar Hill (best priced at 11/4) who arrives in good form. The Sandy Thomson trained nine-year-old has consistent recent form figures of 2112 including a 2 ¾ length victory on his reappearance at Kelso off a mark of 121.

Cedar Hill ran well to finish 2nd behind Tommy’s Oscar last time at Kelso despite racing from 2lbs out of the handicap and that rival has since run well to finish 4th in the Old Roan Chase at Aintree. Cedar Hill runs here off a mark of 124 and this previous course and distance winner should prove hard to beat. 

The William Haggas stable have had a lot more success with debutants this year so Clear Storm is respected but he will need to run up to a high level to deny Sant Alesso (best priced at EVENS). The David Simcock trained colt was sent off a well backed 5/2 favourite for a course and distance novice race on his debut last month where he finished 2nd by a neck.

Sant Alesso cost 30,000gns as a breeze up horse and he would have beaten a more experienced rival had he left the stalls on level terms. He was slowly away before racing keenly in the early stages and then showed his inexperience late on by hanging right handed. He is expected to step forward from that debut effort and he should be able to get off the mark at the second attempt.

Despite racing from 3lbs “wrong” at the weights under a 5lb penalty, The Cola Kid (best priced at 7/2) should hold strong claims back at Kempton. The Grace Harris trained six-year-old ran well to finish 4th by ½ length off a mark of 54 in October over 6f here before finishing 3rd at Windsor on his next start off the same mark.

The Cola Kid beat Laura’s Breeze by a nose over 7f here last time and that rival has boosted the form with a victory at Wolverhampton on Monday. A 2lb rise for that victory seems lenient so I am not concerned at the fact he is running here under a 5lb penalty instead and he should once again run well with up to four places available.