Friday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

Form figures of 9U005 are hardly inspiring for BALKOTIC (best priced at 11/2) but a chance is taken on last year’s winner off a 1lb lower mark. The Micky Hammond trained seven-year-old won this race by a head last year off a mark of 95 under Emma Smith-Chaston and the pair aim to repeat that victory off a 1lb lower mark this year.

Since that victory, Balkotic has been extremely disappointing but showed more promise last time at Wetherby when only beaten 12 lengths off a mark of 97. A return to softer ground and Catterick will suit and he looks worth taking a chance.

This looks a competitive novices’ handicap chase despite there only being four runners but preference goes to MONVIEL (best priced at 6/4) who bumped into JPR One on his chasing debut. The Harry Derham trained six-year-old was making his stable debut that day and he was only beaten two lengths when looking outpaced over 2 miles.

This step up in trip to 2m3f will suit Monviel and the form of his last run was boosted when JPR One (raised 15lbs since) was going to win the Grade 2 Arkle trial at Cheltenham. Monviel has been left on a mark of 128 which seems lenient and he is expected to get off the mark over fences at the second attempt.

AL RUFAA (best priced at 13/8) was rated 23lbs lower than his peak when getting back to winning ways at Wolverhampton last time and he is respected under a 5lb penalty. The Daniel & Claire Kubler trained six-year-old was rated as high as 105 when trained by John Gosden for Al Shaqab before joining his new stable in October. He made a satisfactory first run for the stable at Kempton earlier this month before winning at Wolverhampton last time by 2 ¾ lengths off a mark of 82.

The handicapper has raised Al Rufaa 7lbs for that success but he instead runs here under a 5lb penalty meaning that he is 2lbs “well in” at the weights in this race. Dylan Hogan retains the ride and he should prove hard to beat from Stall 5.