Friday Racing Tips From Steve Ryder

This looks a competitive novices’ chase but preference goes to Grey Dawning (best priced at 13/8) who put in an impressive performance winning a graduation chase at Haydock last time. The Dan Skelton trained six-year-old has a consistent record in his career with form figures of 11211F31 with his 3rd placed finish coming on his chasing debut at Exeter when only beaten 2 ¾ lengths by Stay Away Fay. 

Grey Dawning beat National Hunt Chase winner and Grand National 3rd Gaillard Du Mesnil last time over 2m5f at Haydock with recent novice chase winner and Grade 1 winning novice hurdler Apple Away back in 3rd. He has to concede weight to all of his rivals in this race but deservedly so and I expect him to prove hard to beat. 

The unbeaten Doddiethegreat (best priced at 4/1) makes his handicap debut in this race off a mark of 131 and that should underestimate him. The Nicky Henderson trained seven-year-old beat the now 137 rated Knickerbockerglory in a bumper on his debut before following up in a Huntingdon bumper on his next start under a penalty. 

Doddiethegreat won a novice hurdle by 22 lengths at Kempton in November 2021 but was then off 746 days before winning at Ascot by two lengths 21 days ago. As long as he doesn’t ‘bounce’ following that run then he should prove hard to beat off an opening mark of 131.

The Tony Carroll trained Tea Sea (best priced at 11/8) won easily here over a mile last week and he should prove hard to beat over 7f under a 6lb penalty. The three-year-old finished 2nd at Brighton on his penultimate start off a mark of 59 before relishing his first run on Tapeta when winning easily over a mile off a mark of 55 last time. 

Tea Sea won by an eased down 4 ½ lengths and the handicapper has raised him 10lbs for that victory. He instead runs here under a 6lb penalty in this race so he is 4lbs “well in” at the weights and he should prove hard to beat dropped down to 7f.