Monday Horse Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

The Rebecca Menzies trained YOU SOME GIRL (best priced at 5/4) have proved a revelation since the re-application of a hood and she can hopefully complete a four-timer. The seven-year-old has won by distances of 4 ½, 6 ½ and 7 ½ lengths and despite now running here off a 12lb higher mark, the handicapper may still not have within grasp.

Charlie Maggs settled You Some Girl in rear last time and rode her with supreme confidence and I expect this to be a similar story in a field with a lack of recent winners.

The Venetia Williams stable remain in good form and it looks worth taking a chance on HAUT FOLIN (best priced at 4/1) on his reappearance. The seven-year-old won by 7 ½ lengths on heavy ground following a 238 day break last season off a mark of 104 and he makes his reappearance this season off a 1lb lower mark.

Haut Folin ended last season in poor form but returning to softer ground will suit him well and he has no question marks fresh.

This field is full of horses who finished runner-up on their previous start but none were more eye-catching than DOMINIC’S FAULT (best priced at 2/1). The Olly Murphy trained seven-year-old is extremely lightly raced having only had four starts under rules and he was unlucky not to make a winning handicap debut on his reappearance at Carlisle.

Dominic’s Fault finished a short head 2nd over 2m4f last time shaping like this drop in trip would suit him well and he should prove hard to beat despite racing off a 4lb higher mark.

With Humble Spark a NR last night, this looks a good opportunity for SECTARIUS (best priced at 11/8) to record back-to-back victories over this course and distance. The four-year-old won on his stable debut for Ed Bethell last time by 1 ¼ lengths and the form of that victory has been boosted since.

The runner-up that day Something won his next two starts and is now rated 14lbs higher so the chances of Sectarius are clear off only a 5lb higher mark. Aidan Keeley takes over on board and he should be able to make it 2/2 on the AW from Stall 2.

Both William Dewhurst and Drafted arrive having won last time over this course and distance but I am willing to take a chance on PALLAS LORD (best priced at 8/1) who has dropped back down to his last winning mark. The Donald Whillans trained six-year-old ended last season with his seventh course success off a mark of 61 before finishing a close 2nd off a mark of 65.

Pallas Lord was running well in a tongue tie at the end of last season so it is interesting that he has been a weak finisher in his four races so far this winter when he has now dropped 5lbs in the ratings back down to a mark of 61. With the tongue tie now back on, he should hold strong claims off this mark with Jason Hart on board.