Saturday Horse Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

This looks a weak Veterans’ Chase and I think it is worth backing COMMODORE (best priced at 9/2) for the Venetia Williams stable who look to be turning a corner. The yard’s form figures since Wednesday are 112131 with the winning distances coming by 8, 12, 5½ and 25 lengths and Commodore has a good record fresh. He won after a 249 day break in 2018, finished 2nd behind Snow Leopardess in 2020 after a 269 day break, won after a 309 day break in 2021 before finishing 5th last year off a career high mark of 142. 

Commodore struggled last season but has now dropped from a mark of 142 to 128 and he now runs here after a 343 day break. With the stable now in much better form and his good record fresh, he looks worth taking a chance on in this race.  

Nube Negra is interesting dropped into handicap company in first time cheekpieces but preference instead goes to TOMMY’S OSCAR (best priced at 5/2) who will appreciate the drop back in trip and the return to Doncaster. The Ann Hamilton trained nine-year-old has won two of his three starts at this track including when winning the Grade 2 Lightening Novices’ Chase last season beating the now 158 rated Boothill. 

Tommy’s Oscar won on his reappearance at Kelso by 6 ½ lengths off a mark of 152 and he runs here off only a 2lb higher mark. He slightly disappointed at Musselburgh last time but that was over 2m4½f  and he should prove hard to beat back down in trip.

With doubts surrounding the Nicky Henderson stable form, I am keen to take on Under Control at the top of the market and I think it is worth taking a chance on CRACKING RHAPSODY (best priced at 14/1) at a much bigger price. The Ewan Whillans trained five-year-old was a rare bumper winner for the yard last year before winning on his hurdling debut at Hexham when beating the now 125 rated Idy Wood who was last seen finishing 3rd behind Lump Sum in the Grade 2 Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle last time. 

Cracking Rhapsody finished 2nd on his handicap debut before winning by a neck over this course and distance last time off a mark of 115. He runs here from a 4lb higher mark and should run well with up to six places available. 

The two last time out winners Spring Note and Shared are respected but preference goes to the stablemate of the latter BRENTFORD HOPE (best priced at 7/4) who has shown his best form over this course and distance. The Harry Derham trained seven-year-old won his first two starts for the stable before winning by 16 lengths over this course and distance on his reappearance off a mark of 122. He then finished 3rd in the Gerry Feilden here last time when only beaten two lengths off a mark of 132 and the handicapper has only raised him 1lb for that. 

Brentford Hope was a winner on heavy ground on the flat at Haydock so these conditions shouldn’t be a concern and he should prove hard to beat. 

The Ben Pauling stable have been in fantastic form recently with a strike rate of 32% in the last fortnight and DENSWORTH (best priced at 11/2) should prove better than a mark of 120 on his reappearance. The lightly raced seven-year-old won a bumper by 15 lengths before winning a soft ground novice hurdle at Newcastle by 9½ lengths in January 2023. He then followed up under a penalty at Southwell winning by 29 lengths before pulling up on his handicap debut at Aintree at the Grand National meeting last year. 

Densworth now returns after 323 days off the track following a wind operation with the stable in much better form. The handicapper has dropped him 4lbs down to a mark of 120 and he is expected to prove much better than that mark down in class.