Saturday Horse Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

With an official rating of 142 and in receipt of a 7lb sex allowance, JETARA (best priced at 9/2) looks overpriced in the opening race of the Dublin Racing Festival. The Jessie Harrington trained six-year-old is a second-season novice who has shown much improved form on her previous three starts since stepping up in trip. She won a maiden hurdle by 16 lengths at Fairyhouse before winning a listed mares’ novice hurdle at Punchestown by 6 lengths.

Jetara won a Grade 3 Mares Hurdle here last time over 2m4f on soft/heavy ground in impressive style beating well regarded mares including Cheltenham festival winner Telmesomethinggirl by over 7 lengths. She drops back into novice company in this race and she looks sure to run well with this further step up in trip to 2m6½f looking sure to suit.

Jingko Blue will prove popular on his handicap debut off a mark of 124 but preference instead goes to the progressive CLASSIC ANTHEM (best priced at 7/1) who should be unbeaten in handicaps. The Jim Boyle trained six-year-old won on his handicap debut here over 2 miles on heavy ground off a mark of 114 by two lengths before finishing 2nd at Plumpton last time off a mark of 120.

Robbie Dunne rode Classic Anthem too confidently that day and he was beaten a neck but this return to Sandown will suit him and he looks sure to run well off a 2lb higher mark with bookmakers offering up to four places.

The Alastair Ralph trained MAGNA SAM (best priced at 7/1) won this race last year on his stable debut and he should hold strong claims off only a 4lb higher mark. The ten-year-old has a good record at this course with handicap chase victories by 41 lengths and 18 lengths before winning this race last season by 4 ¼ lengths off a mark of 120.

Magna Sam ran well to finish 5th in the Scottish Grand National on his next start from 3lbs out of the handicap and would have needed his reappearance run here over 2m7½f when finishing a distant 7th. The handicapper has dropped him 2lbs for that down to a mark of 124 and he is expected to run well in his repeat bid with bookmakers offering up to five places. 

The Doncaster handicap hurdle that FIRST IMPRESSION (best priced at 10/1) finished 2nd in has worked out extremely well and he should run well off only a 3lb higher mark. The winner that day Geromino who beat the selection by ½ length won on his next start and is now rated 10lbs higher and the 3rd Rare Edition who finished a neck behind the selection won on his next start and is now rated 3lbs higher. The three of them pulled 17 lengths clear of the fourth that day so it looks strong form and he has been given a 49 day break since.

First Impression looks well handicapped off only a 3lb higher mark and he should run well with four places widely available.

The Martin Brassil trained PANDA BOY (best priced at 13/2) has placed in the previous two renewals of the Paddy Power Chase at Christmas here and he looks well handicapped on his return to hurdles. The eight-year-old is now rated 143 over fences having finished 2nd behind Meetingofthewaters last time but runs here off a mark of 134 over hurdles. He won a Pertemps Qualifier by 3 ¼ lengths over this course and distance in December 2021 off a mark of 128 so this mark shouldn’t prove beyond him.

Panda Boy wore first time cheekpieces last time which are retained in this race and he should run well under regular rider J J Slevin with up to seven places available.