Saturday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

MARTATOR (best priced at EVENS) was a high class horse when trained in France and he may finally get off the mark for Venetia Williams in this race. The six-year-old was rated 142 when he joined new connections in December 2022 where he disappointed in four runs over hurdles. He returned this season going novice chasing where he has placed on all three of his starts at Aintree, Plumpton and Newbury.

Martator is probably unlucky to be raised 1lb for his latest 2nd at Newbury given he was beaten 4 ¾ lengths but he should still remain well handicapped off a mark of 118 and should prove hard to beat in this race. 

This looks a weak 0-135 handicap hurdle and it looks worth taking a chance on FORTESCUE WOOD (best priced at 13/2) given his good record fresh. The Nick Alexander trained eight-year-old is extremely lightly raced for his age but has a good record with form figures of 314131. He won a novice hurdle on soft ground at Ayr in November 2022 which was his first run for 606 days. He then placed at Kelso on heavy ground before winning in impressive style by seven lengths at Ayr in February.

Fortescue Wood returns here following 306 days of the track which shouldn’t inconvenience him and neither should the heavy ground he will encounter in this race. He steps up slightly in trip to 2m3f and I expect him to run well with his stable currently in form operating at a 24% strike rate. 

This looks a top class renewal of the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle and I am hoping CAPTAIN TEAGUE (best priced at 3/1) can provide Paul Nicholls with a record extending sixth victory in the race. The five-year-old was an impressive winner of a PTP before making a winning debut under rules in a Plumpton bumper. He outran odds of 40/1 to finish 3rd in the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival before winning the Grade 2 Persian War Novices’ Hurdle on his reappearance at Sandown.

Connections will have been slightly disappointing he could only finish 2nd in the Grade 2 Hyde Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham last time but the race wasn’t run to suit him that day and the winner looks a smart prospect. He will be a lot more battle hardened than his main rivals Willmount and Johnnywho and he should relish this track.