Saturday Horse Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

This looks a competitive novices’ handicap hurdle but preference goes to STEEL ALLY (best priced at 9/1) whose form has received boosts the last week. The Sam Thomas trained six-year-old has shown improved form on his previous two starts on better ground with a six length victory at Wincanton before finishing a neck 2nd at Newbury on his handicap debut off a mark of 124. The form of his Wincanton victory has been boosted by the 2nd Dartmoor Pirate, the 3rd Manuelito and the 5th Salvatore and his Newbury 2nd has been boosted by Doyen Quest winning at Cheltenham on his next start off a 7lb higher mark (now rated a further 2lbs higher).

Steel Ally runs here off only a 7lb higher mark which seems fair as the pair pulled 9 ½ lengths clear of the third and he should run well with up to seven places available.  

The William Haggas trained AL MUBHIR (best priced at 11/4) won this race on soft ground last year and he should hold strong claims off a 7lb higher mark. The five-year-old was sent off evens last season when victorious by 4 ¼ lengths before finishing 3rd in a listed race at Haydock on his next start. He was tried in better company for the remainder of the season but now returns having been gelded dropping back down in class to this 0-105 handicap. 

The stable have shown improved form in the previous two weeks after a slightly slow start to the season and I expect Al Mubhir to retain his crown.

The Anthony Honeyball trained SAM BROWN (best priced at 22/1) has shown improved form since the application of a visor this year and he looks overpriced in the bet365 Gold Cup. The twelve-year-old won at Warwick in a first time visor before finishing 4th behind Shishkin in the Grade 2 Denman Chase at Newbury. He beat Ascot specialist Two For Gold by ½ length at Ascot under Freddie Gingell off a mark of 151 before finishing 2nd by a length at Aintree over 3m1f off a mark of 154.

Sam Brown got outpaced that day at a crucial time before staying on well at the finish shaping like this step up in trip to 3m4½f would suit him well. He is technically 4lbs “well in” at the weights and should run well with up to seven places available.  

NICKLE BACK (best priced at 5/2) returns back his favoured distance of 2m4f in this race and should prove hard to beat if rediscovering the form of his Grade 1 victory here in February. The Sarah Humphrey trained eight-year-old has form figures of 112219 over fences with his only defeat over this intermediate trip coming behind Hermes Allen at Newbury. 

Nickle Back was badly inconvenienced at the start at Aintree and wasn’t able to lead as a result so that can be excused and he can bounce back here in a handicap off top weight. 

The Rebecca Menzies trained HELTER SKELTER (best priced at 3/1) looked the most likely winner of the Spring Mile at Doncaster on his reappearance before hanging left-handed but amazingly has been dropped 1lb for that effort. The four-year-old made stylish headway to take up the running 2f out that day before showing his inexperience in hanging left-handed and giving away a lot of ground late on. 

Helter Skelter finished 6th beaten only 5 ½ lengths that day off a mark of 74 but now drops into this Class 3 0-90 handicap off a 1lb lower mark. I am sure Joanna Mason will be wary of him hanging left-handed and he should prove hard to beat down in class.