Tuesday Horse Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

Blue Bikini has the advantage of a course victory over TOP CLOUD (bet priced at 15/8) but the selection has looked really progressive since joining this stable and should improve his already impressive record. The Robbie Llewellyn trained seven-year-old won on his stable debut in October off a mark of 84 before following up at Hereford on his next start. He was beaten at Huntingdon on his next start when the trainer thought that the ground was too soft before winning at Taunton off a mark of 89. 

Top Cloud won last time at Ascot off a mark of 95 and despite a 6lb rise for a head success looking harsh, the form of that race has worked out well with both the third Transmission and fifth Wrappedupinmay winning their next starts. The trainer has pulled the horse a few times when the ground is unsuitable so if he allows Top Cloud to run then he should prove extremely hard to beat.  

This looks a weak 0-100 novices’ handicap chase but preference goes to BENNY BALOO (best priced at 3/1) who won over this course and distance on his penultimate start. The Tim Easterby trained seven-year-old finished well beaten on his first four starts over hurdles but this winning point-to-pointer has shown improved form since going over fences. He finished 5th on his chasing debut at Newcastle in November before winning by nine lengths over this course and distance on Boxing Day off a mark of 79.

Benny Baloo could only finish 5th last time at Catterick when jumping poorly but he now returns to this track off a 1lb lower mark. This looks an easier race on paper and he should prove hard to beat with his jockey taking off a handy 3lbs.

A competitive 0-63 handicap concludes the day but the one who looks overpriced in this race is the David Evans trained ALL IN THE HIPS (best priced at 8/1). The filly finished 2nd by a length over this course and distance on her penultimate start off a mark of 59 where she was beaten by the in-form Beauzon. That rival races in the 7:30 on the card over 5f but has already boosted the form with another course and distance victory on Saturday off a 3lbs higher mark. 

All In The Hips finished a short head in front of Alafdhal that day and that reopposing rival has also boosted the form with a victory on his next start. The selection won last time at Chelmsford beating Boom Boom Pow by a length off a mark of 58 and she races here off a 3lb higher mark here but crucially is much better drawn that Alafdhal who is drawn wide in Stall 11. Bookmakers are offering four places on this race and she looks sure to run well.