Saturday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

Kestrel Valley (best priced at 9/4) has won her previous three starts by a combined distance of over 60 lengths and he should hold strong claims of completing a four-timer. The nine-year-old won her final two starts for Kerry Lee including by 34 lengths over this course and distance off a mark of 87. She returned from a 214 day break to win by 23 lengths over this course and distance again on her stable debut for Nigel Twiston-Davies off a mark of 104.

The handicapper has raised Kestrel Valley 16lbs up to a career high mark of 120 but she is clearly thriving at present and should prove hard to beat.

This looks a competitive 0-115 handicap hurdle but preference goes to top-weight Norton Hill (best priced at 9/4) who bids to make it 2/2 at Hereford. The Anthony Honeyball trained seven-year-old finished 2nd in first time blinkers at Ffos Las in April off a mark of 109 before winning over this course and distance last time off the same mark.

Norton Hill won well by 2 ½ lengths that day and the handicapper has raised him 4lbs for that victory. He is well suited by good ground which he encounters here again and I expect him to prove hard to beat.

Bonttay is respected off a mark of 123 but preference goes to the lightly raced Nurse Susan (best priced at 11/2) who should appreciate the return to hurdling. The Dan Skelton trained six-year-old won her final two starts before finishing twice behind Love Envoi including when 4th beaten only 4 ½ lengths in the Grade 2 Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in 2022. 

Nurse Susan was well backed on her first start for 613 days on her chasing debut at Exeter in a listed race but she jumped poorly and eventually finished 7th beaten 21 lengths. She runs here on her handicap debut off an opening mark of 125 which should underestimate her and she should run well with up to four places on offer.