Sunday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

This looks a competitive 80-116 handicap hurdle but preference goes to BENKEI (best priced at 16/1) who has shown good form at this track in similar contests. The Harry Rogers trained thirteen-year-old has form figures of 43034 at the track with those top 4 finishes coming off marks of 122, 122, 106 and 106.

Benkei has placed on his previous two starts including when 3rd at Roscommon off a mark of 96 and when 2nd by ¾ length last time off a mark of 94. Both of those runs came under 7lb claimer Miss M Marsh who retains the ride and the handicapper has only raised him 3lb for that run up to a mark of 97. He is still well handicapped on old form and should run well with up to six places on offer.

The Venetia Williams stable remain in fantastic form highlighted by the victory of Royal Pagaille in the Betfair Chase yesterday and I am hoping HERMES DU GOUET (best priced at 3/1) can make a winning chasing debut in this race. The six-year-old won a maiden hurdle at the course last season by 8 ½ lengths before slightly disappointing on his following two starts.

Hermes Du Gouet makes his chasing debut off a mark of 118 so he should prove well handicapped and despite facing the likes of Amrons Sage and Issuing Authority from the Nicky Henderson stable, it looks worth keeping any chaser from this stable onside at the moment (+38.58pts for chasers this season)

The likes of Longhouse Poet and The Shunter are looking to secure their places in the Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham Festival but I have a feeling that STUZZIKINI (best priced at 11/2) will be contesting all of the valuable 3 mile handicap hurdles throughout this season instead. The Gordon Elliott trained five-year-old has looked progressive since stepping up to 3 miles with his recent form figures of 3221. He finished 2nd by ½ length at Galway in a novice hurdle a month ago over an inadequate trip of 2m4f before winning by 31 lengths to Cheltenham Festival winner Angels Dawn at Clonmel in a 3 mile handicap hurdle last time off a mark of 126.

The handicapper has raised Stuzzikini 9lbs for that victory which is fair and he should run well here with four places available despite being off a career mark.