Monday Horse Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

This looks a weak 0-125 handicap so it looks worth taking the chance on the unexposed Dunnet Head (best priced at 3/1) who is upped in class following his victory on his handicap debut last time. The Iain Jardine trained five-year-old won here on his debut in a bumper before finishing 4th at Kelso on his hurdling debut a couple of months later. He finished 2nd by two lengths at Carlisle in a novice hurdle in February before being given an opening mark of 106.

Dunnet Head had a wind operation over the summer and returned from 272 days off the track to win by 1 ¾ lengths at Carlisle on his handicap debut. The handicapper has raised him 4lbs for that victory which is fair and he should prove hard to beat if repeating that form.

Despite a wide draw in Stall 13, Rising Force (best priced at 11/4) should hold strong claims of recording a second course victory at this course. The Robert Eddery trained two-year-old defied odds of 33/1 to win a nursery handicap over 7f here in September off a mark of 50 before finishing 2nd at Lingfield off a mark of 54.

Rising Force returned from a 59 day break to finish 2nd by a short head over this course and distance last time and the handicapper has only raised him 2lbs for that. He was held up last time so I expect Dylan Hogan to drop him in from the wide draw so hopefully he gets a bit of luck in running and can get back to winning ways.

The Paul & Oliver Cole trained Post Rider (best priced at 9/2) outran odds of 9/1 to finish 2nd over 7f here on her debut and she should hold strong claims of going one better in this race. The two-year-old finished 2nd behind the 4/11 favourite Rochelle that day but pulled three lengths clear of the third Born A Rebel who had the benefit of a debut run under her belt.

Post Rider led for most of the 7f contest so this drop to 6f shouldn’t inconvenience her and she is well drawn in Stall 2 to get a good early position. Rob Hornby takes over on board and she should prove hard to beat.