Monday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

With concerns over Springwell Bay going up in trip having raced keenly last time over 2m5f, preference goes to ED KEEPER (best priced at 9/4) who was an impressive winner at Newbury a month ago. The Sam Thomas trained six-year-old finished 2nd on his reappearance at Ascot over an inadequate 2m3½f but relished the step up to 3 miles last time at Newbury when winning easily by 5 ½ lengths in impressive style.

The form of that run has been boosted by the sixth Rambo T (beaten over 16 lengths) winning at Newbury on Saturday so the 9lb rise given to Ed Keeper seems fair. He has shown good form on soft ground previously so conditions shouldn’t be a worry and I expect him to prove hard to beat.

Brian Carver rode both Merry Monty and TIME TO BITE (best priced at 9/4) last time and I am hoping the latter can make it 2/2 at Exeter in his career. The Chris Honour trained nine-year-old had been running consistently well for new connections since joining from Ireland with form figures of 3323335 before winning in impressive style by 8 ½ lengths over this course and distance last time.

Time To Bite was given a bold front running ride from Bryan Carver that day and the pair never looked in danger despite a starting price of 10/1. He has been raised only 2lbs for that victory which seems extremely lenient and he is expected to follow up in this race.

This looks a competitive Class 2 6f handicap featuring the likes of Summerghand and Albasheer but preference instead goes to the less exposed BREWING (best priced at 3/1) who has won four out of his five career starts. The lightly raced William Haggas trained five-year-old is 3/3 at Newcastle with his only defeat coming at Lingfield in April when racing too keenly around a bend.

Brewing beat the high class Bielsa over this course and distance last time by a length off a mark of 90 under Adam Farragher and despite his jockey now losing his 3lb claim, he still looks to hold strong claims off only a 4lb higher mark.