Thursday Horse Racing Tips from Steve Ryder for Cheltenham

There is no doubt that Facile Vega will benefit from this step up in trip but I prefer the chances of both Grey Dawning and GINNY’S DESTINY (best priced at 9/2) with preference going to the latter at the prices. The Paul Nicholls trained eight-year-old has won his previous three starts all at this course and has improved from a mark of 133 up to a rating of 155. He beat Grey Dawning by ¾ length over this course and distance in December in receipt of 3lbs with that rival making a mistake at the second last but he isn’t guaranteed to reverse that form.

Ginny’s Destiny beat Theatre Man by 2 ¾ lengths over this course and distance last time off a mark of 147 in the same race his stablemate Stage Star won before this race last season. Harry Cobden should be able to dictate this race from the front and it looks unlikely for him to finish out of the top four.

Willie Mullins is yet to win the Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle but he looks to hold strong claims this year with ICARE ALLEN (best priced at 8/1). The lightly raced six-year-old finished 4th in the Triumph Hurdle here in 2022 before finishing down the field in the Coral Cup last season off a mark of 145. He qualified for this race in November at Aintree when finishing an eyecatching 3rd off a mark of 142 and he hasn’t run since by design. 

Connections are clearly happy with his mark of 142 and Icare Allen can reward their patience by winning this race once again for owner JP McManus. 

The Ryanair Chase looks a really competitive renewal this year but the horse I feel is overpriced is AHOY SENOR (best priced at 18/1). The Lucinda Russell trained nine-year-old is known more as an Aintree horse but he has some fantastic Cheltenham form. He finished 2nd behind L’Homme Presse in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase in 2022, he won the Cotswold Chase last season and then was still going well in the Gold Cup when falling last year. In the Cotswold Chase this year he settled well and was jumping well until his stirrup snapped jumping the fourth last fence and that meant he weakened into 4th late on.

Connections decided to give him a prep run in the Ascot Chase a month ago so he wasn’t too keen for this race and I think he has a good chance of upsetting those at the head of the market with a strong pace likely in this race. 

There is a lack of pace in the Stayers’ Hurdle this year and I feel that FLOORING PORTER (best priced at 14/1) could make all once again in this race and regain his crown. Victorious in 2021 and 2022, the Gavin Cromwell trained nine-year-old suffered an interrupted preparation for this race when only 4th last season when less than three lengths behind the re-opposing favourite Teahupoo. 

Flooring Porter recorded his third course win from four starts on his chasing debut here in October before finishing 3rd in Grade 2 and Grade 1 contests on his next two starts. Connections have decided to revert him back to hurdles to target this race and he looks sure to run well with up to five places available. 

Theatre Man was going to be a selection alongside SHAKEM UP’ARRY (best priced at 10/1) but following overnight support I am happy to leave him at 7/2 and concentrate on the Ben Pauling trained runner. The yard had Twig finish 2nd in the Ultima Handicap Chase on Tuesday and this ten-year-old brings solid course and distance form to the race. The ten-year-old finished 3rd in this race last season off a mark of 139 and won over this course and distance last time on heavy ground by 7 ½ lengths. 

The handicapper has only raised Shakem Up’Arry 3lbs for that easy success which seems extremely lenient and he should run well once again this year with up to six places available. 

Inothewayurthinkin could prove too well handicapped for his rivals off a mark of 145 but at the prices I will take a chance on WHACKER CLAN (best priced at 11/1) who has been targeted at this race all season.

Henry De Bromhead is having a fantastic festival once again with Slade Steel and Captain Guinness winning Grade 1s and Telmesomethinggirl, Hispanic Moon, Monty’s Star and Ballyadam all placing so his runners are exceeding expectations. The eight-year-old won here on the old course in October by three lengths beating Twig who went on to finish 2nd in the Ultima Handicap Chase on Tuesday off a 3lb higher mark. 

Whacker Clan was then off for 120 days but had a prep run over hurdles at Naas over an inadequate 2 mile trip which will have put him spot on for this and he should run well with six places on offer. My one concern is that the jockey has only had four rides over fences with one third placed finish his best result but at a double figure price he looks worth taking a chance on.