Monday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

This looks a competitive maiden hurdle but I am willing to take a chance on THE GAMBLER (best priced at 16/1) on her hurdling debut. The five-year-old won her final PTP by 6 ½ lengths in April before making a winning stable debut for Max Young in a Market Rasen bumper in June by seven lengths.

The Gambler was a NR on heavy ground earlier this month so she wouldn’t want too much rain but she is interesting on her hurdling debut following 179 days off the track. With her previous experience in three point to points, she should hold an advantage over her rivals and she looks sure to outrun her odds with up to four places on offer.

Both Ballintubber Boy and Baddesley come here following wins last time out but preference instead goes to DESTROYTHEEVIDENCE (best priced at 13/8) who looked to improve in first time cheekpieces last time. The Kim Bailey trained five-year-old won a novice hurdle at Worcester by ten lengths beating Huelgoat in May before finishing 2nd at Southwell on his reappearance a month ago.

Destroytheevidence put in a career best performance to win by 15 lengths here over 2m5f last time in first time cheekpieces shaping like this step back up in trip to 3 miles would suit. He makes his handicap debut off a mark of 122 in this race but should prove better than a mark of 122 and I expect him to prove hard to beat.

THELASTHIGHKING (best priced at 15/8) ran well to finish 2nd in a similar event here on his reappearance and he should hold strong claims despite racing off a 5lb higher mark. The Nigel Twiston-Davies trained seven-year-old has form figures of 2112 so far this year including victories at both Wincanton and Southwell off marks of 116 and 124.

Thelasthighking finished 2nd by 1 ¼ lengths over 2m2f here last time but he pulled 15 lengths clear of the favourite in third that day so this 5lb rise in the weights looks fair as the winner finished 4th behind Boothill in a valuable Ascot handicap chase on Saturday. This step up in trip to 2m4f should suit and I expect him to prove hard to beat off top weight.