Steve Ryder names his best bets for the day.
13:45 Plumpton
Steve Ryder runs through the key races on 10th February and names his best bets for the day.
There is jumps racing at Plumpton and Catterick on Monday 10th February while Wolverhampton stages an all-weather meeting this evening.
Today’s Best Bets from Steve Ryder
Last year’s winner SAN PEDRO (best priced at 7/2) has been out of form on his three starts over hurdles this season but interestingly those have been without any headgear on. The Chris Gordon trained eight-year-old now returns back to the race he won by 12 lengths last season off a mark of 96 off only a 3lb higher mark.
San Pedro won again over this course and distance by 10 lengths last season off a mark of 102 so he is clearly well handicapped off a 6lb lower mark and with cheekpieces, that were worn for both of those victories, back on then he should prove hard to beat.
14:45 Plumpton
Topweight THEONLYWAYISWESSEX (best priced at 4/1) was an impressive 6 ½ length winner over this course and distance last time and he should hold strong claims despite racing off a 10lb higher mark. The Alan King trained seven-year-old is the most experienced of these over fences which is always a benefit in these novice handicap chases and he has progressed with each of his starts so far this season.
Theonlywayiswessex was only beaten 1 ½ lengths over this course and distance on his penultimate start but won easily last time in December. He has been given a 70-day break since and should be able to follow up that success.
16:15 Plumpton
The Chris Gordon trained ALTO ALTO (best priced at 5/2) can hopefully provide his trainer with a victory in the “Master Trainer Chris Gordon Handicap Chase” for the second year in a row. A winner of this race last season by a head off a mark of 114, he now returns to Plumpton over fences off a mark of 111.
As is the case with San Pedro in the opener, connections now switch headgear with Alto Alto replacing the cheekpieces he wore last time with a first-time visor. This seems significant as he won his first two races in cheekpieces so he clearly performs well with the application of new headgear. His trainer will have no doubt targeted this race and he is expected to retain his crown.
