Friday Horse Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

Handicap debutants God’s Own Getway and Jupiter Allen are respected but preference goes to the unpenalised NIMBUS BOY (best priced at 10/3). The six-year-old had shown very little in his five starts for Paul Nolan before catching the eye when 5th at 200/1 in a maiden hurdle at Hereford on his stable debut for Samuel Drinkwater in November.

Nimbus Boy landed a gamble from big prices to win last time at Hereford in a first time tongue tie under Ned Fox in a conditional jockeys’ novice handicap hurdle. The handicapper has raised him 7lbs for that 1 ¾ length success but he can run here unpenalised meaning he is 7lbs “well in” at the weights. A repeat of his previous run will be good enough to win this despite going up in class.

This looks a competitive 0-120 handicap chase but preference goes to CONISTON CLOUDS (best priced at 13/8) who made a winning chasing debut last time at Catterick. The Nicky Richards trained eight-year-old won on his handicap debut last time at Carlisle on soft ground off a mark of 95 before disappointing at Kelso on good ground on his final start last season.

Coniston Clouds won on his reappearance at Catterick in impressive style by three lengths off a mark of 97 and he should hold strong claims of making it 2/2 over fences off a 5lb higher mark.

The Pauline Robson trained HEEZTHEBOY (best priced at 9/4) won on his chasing/handicap debut last time and he should hold strong claims off a 7lb higher mark. The lightly raced seven-year-old had finished well beaten in his first four starts when sent off 33/1, 100/1, 125/1 and 100/1 but much better was obviously expected when sent off only 4/1 on his reappearance at Hexham.

Heeztheboy won in impressive style on his chasing/handicap debut by five lengths off an opening mark of 79 and a 7lb rise for that victory seems fair. This step up in trip should suit and I expect him to remain unbeaten over fences and in handicaps.