Tuesday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

Assuming yesterday’s winner Egbert doesn’t take his chance under a 7lb penalty, OXYGEN (best priced at 15/8) should hold strong claims on his first start over fences for the in-form Venetia Williams yard. The five-year-old finished 2nd on his only other chase start in France last year before disappointing on his four starts over hurdles last season. He has had a wind operation over the summer and now returns off a lowly handicap mark of 103 which is 17lbs lower than his original UK mark.

The Venetia Williams stable are in fantastic form at present with a 41% strike rate in the last two weeks and Oxygen is expected to show huge improvement on his return to chasing. He has to concede fitness Maninsane who looks to biggest danger but I expect him to prove hard to beat.

This race looks set to be dominated by previous course and distance winners with preference going to the Iain Jardine trained JUMP THE GUN (best priced at 11/2). The six-year-old defied odds of 66/1 to win by ½ length earlier this month from Mondammej who has shown good form at this track. The gelding had dropped down from a mark of 96 to a mark of 80 in only five runs this year before finishing 2nd by a neck in first time blinkers at Doncaster in September.

Jump The Gun travelled well on his first start at this course last time before winning by ½ length off a mark of 82. The handicapper has only raised him 3lbs for that success and hopefully he can make it 2/2 over this course and distance.

Ernie Bilko is a big danger if ready to go after 598 days off the track but preference goes to SHEWEARTHEWELLIES (best priced at 7/2) who is fitted with first time cheekpieces. The Lawney Hill trained mare returned from a wind operation this season with a ¾ length victory at Fontwell in September over 2m5f. That win came off a mark of 80 and she nearly defied a 5lb rise at Plumpton despite being hampered multiple times throughout the race over 3m1f.

Connections of Shewearsthewellies have decided to fit her with first time cheekpieces alongside her tongue tie and she will also be suited by the slight drop in trip to 2m7f. She runs here off the same mark and she should run well with David Bass retaining the ride.