Sunday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

This looks to be between the three last time out winners Rock Danse, West Warhorse and CLASSIC ANTHEM (best priced at 5/6) with preference going to the latter who handled testing conditions well at Sandown. The Jim Boyle trained six-year-old had shown good form in novice/maiden hurdles behind the 132 rated Father Of Jazz and the well regarded Southoftheborder before making a winning handicap debut at Sandown last time off an opening mark of 114.

Classic Anthem stayed on strongly on heavy ground that day to win by two lengths and he should be able to defy a 6lb rise in the weights. 

The well bred SMOKY MOUNTAIN (best priced at 15/8) has put in his three best performances over this course and distance and he should prove hard to beat in this race. The son of Frankel finished 2nd here on his second career run before making a winning reappearance after a 220 day break over this course and distance by four lengths. 

Smoky Mountain was unlucky to finish 2nd by a neck on his handicap debut off a mark of 77 last time when hampered during to race and he get back to winning ways in this race off only a 1lb higher mark. 

Recent course and distance Oxygen is respected in his hat-trick bid but he should struggle to beat AUTHORISED SPEED (best priced at 11/10) if his confidence hasn’t been knocked for his fall last time. The Gary Moore trained seven-year-old beat Broadway Boy in a maiden hurdle last season before disappointing in the Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown.

He bounced back to win by 19 lengths at Sandown on soft ground before finishing midfield behind Irish Point in Grade 1 Mersey Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree. Authorised Speed looked set to win on his chasing debut last time at Ascot when two lengths clear of the eventual winner Persian Time before falling at the second last fence. They had Grade 2 winner Homme Public a further three lengths behind and a repeat of that form will see him hard to beat in this race off a mark of 135.