Sunday Horse Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

Ballyburn looks slightly vulnerable dropping back down to 2 miles at such a short price so preference instead goes to the Grade 1 winner FARREN GLORY (best priced at 7/2). The Gordon Elliott trained seven-year-old won by 9 ½ lengths on his reappearance at Clonmel before beating stablemate King Of Kingsfield in the Grade 1 Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse in December by 1 ½ lengths. Many at the time questioned the form but that rival beat Mirazur West in a maiden hurdle by six lengths on his next start and that rival has since won a maiden hurdle on his next start by 11 lengths.

Farren Glory looked the most likely winner of the Grade 1 Formby Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree on Boxing Day before falling at the 2nd last hurdle and he has been given time to recover since. He sets the standard on what has been achieved over hurdles so far and should hold strong claims of upsetting the favourite. 

This race is full of unexposed chasers but the one I am drawn to is PERCEVAL LEGALLOIS (best priced at 14/1) who won a valuable 3 mile handicap hurdle at this meeting last season. The Gavin Cromwell trained seven-year-old won by 3 ¼ lengths last year off a mark of 125 which earnt him a 10lb rise up to a mark of 135. He won on his chasing debut at Galway in October where Meetingofthewaters was a well beaten favourite before falling when in contention at the 3rd last fence at Cork in a Grade 3 novice chase. 

Perceval Legallois was well beaten in the Grade 1 Drinmore Chase last time but he drops down in class here and should be competitive off an opening chase mark of 132. 

The Paul Nicholls trained OUTLAW PETER (best priced at 5/1) finished 2nd by a nose at this meeting last season and he should hold strong claims of going one place better this year. The eight-year-old won a match race on his chasing debut at Newton Abbot before disappointing on his next start Ludlow when pulled up. He returned from a 61 day break to finish 2nd at Kempton which was a huge career best according to RPRs. 

Outlaw Peter was only beaten 1 ½ lengths by Blow Your Ward that day off a mark of 132 and the handicapper has raised him 3lbs for that effort. The winner wasn’t suited by Cheltenham on his net start but the 3rd that day Es Perfecto finished 3rd in the same race on his next start to five the form the boost many were expecting from last time. Harry Cobden is riding brilliantly at the moment and he should hold a strong chance on this progressive, unexposed chaser. 

Both Lossiemouth and Gala Marceau advertised the form of the Triumph Hurdle last weekend and it may be worth taking a chance on ZENTA (best priced at 10/1) on her handicap debut. The Willie Mullins trained mare won a Grade 3 juvenile hurdle easily on her Irish debut for Willie Mullins before finishing 3rd only beaten 2 ½ lengths by Lossiemouth in the Triumph Hurdle. She won the Grade 1 Juvenile hurdle at Aintree on her next start before jumping poorly on her chasing debut at Cork in December. 

Connections have now put her chasing career on hold and she reverts back to hurdling here off an opening mark of 138. This strongly run 2 mile hurdle should suit her well and she looks worth taking a chance on at the prices.