Tuesday Horse Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

The Venetia Williams stable remain at a 38% strike rate in the previous two weeks and IBELO (best priced at 15/8) looks worth taking a chance on despite returning from 991 days off the track. His stablemate Cepage won a similar Veterans’ Chase at Cheltenham a fortnight ago and he looks well handicapped off a mark of 150. He finished 3rd in the Grand Annual at the Cheltenham Festival off a mark of 154 in March 2021 and has been off the track since finishing 8th in the Topham at Aintree a month later.

Ibleo has previously won following 838 days off the track so this huge lay off isn’t a concern and he faces Riders Onthe Storm who was disappointing when last seen at Perth.

The Willie Mullins newcomers Kargese and Karafon are both respected but I would be disappointed if MIGHTY BANDIT (best priced at 11/8) didn’t make it 2/2 over hurdles in this race. The Gordon Elliott trained juvenile was making his first appearance on a track when running out an impressive 9 ½ length winner at Punchestown a month ago. The form has been boosted since with both the 3rd Harsh and 4th Pacini (both beaten over 17 lengths) winning by 8 lengths and 6 ½ lengths respectively on their next starts.

Mighty Bandit receives weight from the Grade 3 winner Nurburgring and he should be able to remain unbeaten.

ARTIC BREEZE (best priced at 11/1) was a disappointing novice hurdler for Laura Morgan last season but he could prove extremely well handicapped off a mark of 85 on his first start for Lucinda Russell. The seven-year-old was a previous PTP winner and he now makes his chasing debut in a first-time tongue tie and cheekpieces combination.

Any market support for Artic Breeze would be significant as he was sent off 40/1 for his handicap debut last time on his final start last season but he could rate a different proposition here.

The Tony Martin trained BELGOPRINCE (best priced at 4/1) was only beaten a nose in this race in 2021 off a mark of 97 and he runs here off the same mark this year. Since that run he has improved from a mark of 61 on the flat up to a mark of 80 following victories at both Tipperary and Epsom.

Belgoprince ran well to finish 7th behind Impose Toi in a novices’ handicap hurdle at Cheltenham last time off a UK mark of 108 but he now runs here off an 11lb lower Irish mark of 97. He runs here carrying only 10-2 and he looks sure to run well with six places available. 

GOOD NEWS (best priced at 5/1) outran odds of 33/1 to finish 2nd at Stratford on his reappearance and he should prove hard to beat off only 1lb higher. The Lydia Richards trained eleven-year-old ended last season in disappointing fashion but if he can repeat the form of his latest run then a 1lb rise seems lenient.

Good News finished only three lengths behind Top Cloud who has won three times since including at Ascot on Saturday off an 11lb higher mark so he looks well handicapped off a 1lb higher mark in this race.

Light Speed will no doubt prove popular in this race bidding for a four-timer but preference instead goes CIVIL LAW (best priced at 3/1) who won this race last season off a 1lb lower mark. The Roger Teal trained six-year-old won this race by a head last year off a mark of 87 and bounced back to form last time when winning over this course and distance off a mark of 83.

The handicapper has raised Civil Law 5lbs for that victory up to a mark of 88 for that two length success which seems lenient and he should hold strong claims from Stall 1 with Paddy Bradley claiming a handy 3lbs.