Sunday Horse Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

Vicki Vale is respected on her chasing debut but she is likely to struggle to give weight to ALTO ALTO (best priced at 9/4) who has won both of his starts in cheekpieces. The Chris Gordon trained seven-year-old defied odds of 28/1 to win over hurdles here in January before winning over this course and distance back over fences last time off a mark of 114. 

The handicapper has raised Alto Alto 4lbs for that head victory which looks harsh on the face of it but the runner-up Prince Quali has won on his next start and is now rated 7lbs higher than when they met. Rex Dingle, who is 2/3 on the horse, retains the ride and he should prove hard to beat.

Both Across Earth and KING’S SCHOOL (best priced at 11/4) have similar profile running here on their handicap debuts so at the prices, preference has to go to the latter. The David Simcock stable are in good form currently operating at a 33% strike rate in the past two weeks and this three-year-old now returns from a 208 day break having been gelded during that time. 

King’s School has shown solid form in novice/maiden races over a mile and 1m2f with his latest effort coming when 3rd at Chelmsford when beaten only 1½ lengths. An opening handicap mark of 72 seems fair and he looks like he should be suited by this step up in trip to 1m4f for the first time.  

Eccentric has been beaten less than ½ length on three starts this year and is currently 0-9 in his career so he looks a vulnerable favourite and preference instead goes to CUBAN FIESTA (best priced at 13/2). The Ed Dunlop trained three-year-old caught the eye on his 2nd start when 4th in a Doncaster maiden over 6f and his latest effort at Nottingham under a claimer suggests that connections had an eye on handicaps following that run. 

The handicapper has given Cuban Fiesta an opening mark of 66 which seems lenient and he now steps up in trip to a mile for his handicap debut. He now makes his tapeta debut following 172 days off the track and I expect to see a lot of improvement today with Rossa Ryan booked for the ride.