Wednesday Horse Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

Lunar Discovery (best priced at 6/5) was a high-class bumper horse last season and she can make it 2/2 over hurdles at this track. The Jimmy Moffatt trained six-year-old won her first two bumper starts including here on her debut before finishing 2nd at Ayr which she was subsequently disqualified for a whip breach.

She was outclassed in the Grade 2 Mares’ Bumper at Aintree on her final start last season but made a winning hurdling debut over this course and distance in November on heavy ground. 

Lunar Discovery jumped poorly that day but still managed to win by a widening 2 ½ lengths at the finish so she should hold strong claims of defying a 7lb penalty if jumping better. 

This looks a weak 0-110 handicap hurdle so preference goes to Zwicky (best priced at 6/4) who has looked progressive so far this season. The Philip Kirby trained six-year-old won on his reappearance at Sedgefield by a length off a mark of 95 before following up at Carlisle off a mark of 98 by ¾ length.

Zwicky finished 3rd only beaten a length at Doncaster last time off a mark of 102 under Joe Williamson who gave him plenty to do late on in the race. The handicapper has only given him a 1lb rise for that run which is fair and he should prove hard to beat under a more positive tactics.  

The Kim Bailey trained The Edgar Wallace (best priced at 7/4) won on his reappearance at Wetherby last month and he should hold strong claims off only a 7lb higher mark. The eight-year-old was returning from a 252 day break and wind surgery when running out a two length winner at Wetherby a month ago.

He stayed on gamely to beat William Cody that day under Gavin Sheehan and it is a positive that he retains the ride. Hopefully The Edgar Wallace has improved for that wind operation and he can back up his latest effort and if that is the case, he should prove hard to beat.