Wednesday Horse Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

The Fergal O’Brien trained BONTTAY (best priced at EVENS) was unlucky to unseat Paddy Brennan at Cheltenham in December and she should prove hard to beat off the same mark. The seven-year-old has an incredibly consistent profile with form figures of 111221211U including a victory at Hereford on her reappearance over a sharp 2 miles.

Bonttay was still travelling well and looking the most likely winner when unseating at the 2nd last hurdle in a race won by Nurse Susan. That rival has boosted the form of the race since by winning at Lingfield off a 4lb higher mark and she is now rated 10lbs higher than at Cheltenham. Bonttay runs here off the same mark and it will be disappointing if she was beaten.

This looks a competitive mares’ maiden hurdle but preference goes to PHONE HOME (best priced at 9/4) who has had the form of her latest run boosted. The Jamie Snowden trained five-year-old has shown improved form this season including when 2nd over 2m3½f at Huntingdon on her reappearance.

Phone Home finished 2nd by ten lengths at Catterick last time in a race won by Brucio and that rival has since won the valuable mares’ handicap hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival off a mark of 116 by six lengths (now rated 127). Phone Home wore a first time tongue tie that day which is retained and she should hold strong claims back up in trip to 2m5½f in this race.  

It is hard to be overly confident about the chances of MELLYS FLYER (best priced at 9/1) with form figures of 86899 but he has now dropped to a career low mark and returns to Kempton for the first time in a year. The Charlie Wallis trained six-year-old has form figures of 1163 at the track including a handicap victory off a mark of 75 and a placed effort off a mark of 78. The gelding has dropped from a mark of 74 to 58 in his six runs for this yard and he now runs in a Class 6 0-58 handicap for the first time.

Another eyecatching difference as well as the return to Kempton is the booking of Tom Marquand for the ride on Mellys Flyer who has a good record for the yard from a small amount of rides. Bookmakers are offering up to four places on the race and he should outrun his odds.