Saturday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

This looks a competitive handicap hurdle but a chance is taken on the veteran ON THE BLIND SIDE (best priced at 12/1) who is back down to the same mark as when winning over this course and distance in March. The Nicky Henderson trained twelve-year-old has shown good form at Newbury in the past and will also handle the testing conditions as a heavy ground winner and three-time soft ground winner. 
On The Blind Side defied odds of 50/1 to win over this course and distance in March off a mark of 137 and he has now dropped back down to the same mark having been disappointing at Plumpton last time. Bookmakers are still offering four places on the race despite two early NRs and he should outrun his odds. 
 

MUSTA LOVEA LOVEA (best priced at 6/1) only has an official rating of 111 following his ten hurdle runs but he put in a career best performance in a strong Naas maiden last time. The Oliver McKiernan trained eight-year-old finished 3rd in a race won by Slade Steel where he only finished a further neck behind King Of Kingsfield. Both have boosted the form since with graded victories and are rated 146 and 140. 
Musta Lovea Lovea has run in blinkers on his previous two starts but these are replaced with cheekpieces for this race and he looks sure to be involved in the finish of this race. 

Only four runners remain in the Game Spirit Chase and I am willing to take a chance on the outsider of the field FUNAMBULE SIVOLA (best priced at 9/1) who has won this race for the past two seasons. The Venetia Williams trained nine-year-old beat the 170 rated Greaneteen under very different conditions last season but put in his best career performance on soft ground in the 2022 Champion Chase when 2nd behind Energumene.

Both Edwardstone and Boothill have shown their best form going right-handed and Amarillo Sky is making his reappearance after 378 days off the track so it looks worth backing Funambule Sivola to win this for a third year in a row.