Steve Ryder is back with three tips for today's horse racing action.
14:00 Exeter
Harry Cobden has won on his previous three rides for trainers Evan Williams, James Owen and Neil Mulholland and he teams up with David Pipe in this race on MR TAMBOURINE MAN (best priced at 7/1).
The pair have teamed up five times previously and that has resulted in two wins and third placed finish. Form figures of 7P6P do not inspire confidence for Mr Tambourine Man but he now returns from a wind operation on his return from 189 days off the track.
Mr Tambourine Man has previously won twice off marks of 109 (by 12 lengths) and 117 (by 5 ½ lengths) so he looks well handicapped off a mark of 108 and looks worth taking a chance on at the prices.
15:00 Exeter
There are several with question marks in this Veterans’ chase and the solid RAFFLE TICKET (best priced at 5/2) looks the one to beat. The Mel Rowley trained ten-year-old is lightly raced with only eleven starts under rules with form figures of 311F621 over fences. He finished 2nd by a head at Taunton in December off a mark of 129 before beating Cruz Control by a head at Doncaster in January off a mark of 133.
The handicapper has raised Raffle Ticket 4lbs up to a mark of 137 which is fair and the runner-up that day won by seven lengths on Saturday and is now rated 9lbs higher. Harry Cobden retains the ride which is a positive and he should prove hard to beat.
15:15 Wetherby
Nambiti has either failed to finish or failed to beat a rival on his three starts for Venetia Williams so preference instead goes to CARRIGEEN CASTLE (best priced at 7/10). The Micky Hammond trained eight-year-old arrives here in good form with form figures of 3112 over fences. He won by 2 ½ lengths at Newcastle off a mark of 94 before winning by 22 lengths off a mark of 99 over this course and distance on his penultimate start.
Carrigeen Castle finished 2nd last time at Catterick off this mark of 109 but this return to Wetherby should suit him well and this drop in grade from a Class 3 0-135 handicap to this Class 4 0-120 handicap should mean he gets back to winning ways under Brian Hughes.
