Steve Ryder is back with three tips for today's action.
14:50 Leopardstown
The twelve-year-old Cash Back and Ashdale Bob, who hasn’t won in seventeen attempts since April 2021, look vulnerable to an improver and that is likely to be DEE CAPO (best priced at 5/2). The Gordon Elliott trained five-year-old won at Galway bumper by 8 ½ lengths in October before winning on his hurdling debut at Cork by six lengths. He finished 2nd in a Grade 3 novice hurdle at Naas behind stablemate What’s Up Darling last time when the pair pulled 10 lengths clear of the third.
With only two runs over hurdles, Dee Capo hasn’t got an official rating but he achieved a higher RPR than Ashdale Bob achieved when 5th last time at Navan in the Boyne Hurdle. Conceding 5lbs to Ashdale Bob is a concern but this looks a trip too short for that rival and Dee Capo looks worth taking a chance on.
15:40 Huntingdon
This looks a competitive 0-135 handicap but preference goes to DIBBLE DECKER (best priced at 4/1) who is unbeaten in all of his three starts at this track. The Tom Lacey trained eight-year-old won a novice hurdle here by 10 lengths before winning handicap chases here last season off marks of 118 and 121.
Dibble Decker bounced back to form last time winning by ½ length in a first time tongue tie at Wincanton on heavy ground beating Iconic Muddle who finished 2nd by ½ length on his next start. The handicapper has only raised Dibble Decker 2lbs for that victory which seems lenient and he should prove hard to beat.
20:00 Newcastle
Southbank and Desert Master set the standard based on their victories last time but I think it may be worth taking a chance on PIPER’S FORT (best priced at 6/1) on his handicap debut. The Archie Watson trained three-year-old showed very little on his first three starts last season on turf at Nottingham, Windsor and Sandown but has been given an opening handicap mark of 58.
Piper’s Fort returns here from 206 days off the track having been gelded and connections also fit him with first time cheekpieces. Hollie Doyle takes over on board which is a positive and he looks worth taking a chance on in a poor race.
