Friday Horse Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

This looks a competitive novices’ handicap chase but preference goes to ONEMOREFORTHEROAD (best priced at 9/4) who was an impressive winner over this course and distance on his chasing debut. The Neil King trained eight-year-old improved from a moderate reappearance over hurdles to win by 4 ½ lengths over this course and distance earlier this month on his chasing debut.

The handicapper has raised Onemorefortheroad 7lbs for that success which is fair and he should prove hard to beat off top weight under Jack Quinlan once again.

The Nigel Twiston-Davies trained ZAMBELLA (best priced at 15/8) has won this race for the last two years and should hold strong claims of completing the hat-trick this year. The eight-year-old has a fantastic record of nine wins from eighteen starts over fences and she looked better than ever when making a winning reappearance at Aintree earlier this month.

Zambella won easily by 17 lengths on heavy ground last time but also showed last year winning this race by 7 ½ lengths that she can handle a better surface too. Sam Twiston-Davies (who won this race on her in 2021) is back on board with Daryl Jacob riding in Ireland and it will be disappointing if she was beaten.

Hiya Maite is respected dropped in class but a wide draw in Stall 11 would put me off and I am willing to take a chance on ROSE KING (best priced at 4/1) at a bigger price. The Scott Dixon trained three-year-old has a fantastic record at Southwell with him winning his first two starts at the venue. He was only beaten a neck over this course and distance last time by the re-opposing Captain’s Bar but is 6lbs better off with that rival in this race.

The handicapper has raised Rose King 2lbs up to a mark of 75 for this race but he instead runs here off a mark of 73 meaning he is 2lbs “well in” at the weights. With bookmakers offering four places on the race, he looks sure to be involved in the finish once again.