Sunday's Horse Racing Tips for Ripon and Leicester

There are two British flat cards at Ripon and Leicester coming up on Sunday, providing plenty of competitive action.

Here are the latest horse racing betting tips for Sunday's card from the Racing Post's Gary Savage:

Sunday Horse Racing Betting Tips and Odds

2.10 Ripon - Pinball Wizard @ 8/1
3.00 Leicester - Golden Duke @ 10/1
3.40 Ripon - Oosterpark @ 8/1

2.10 Ripon - Pinball Wizard @ 8/1

Getting on the right side of a talented apprentice early can be a great boon to a punter and there's no doubt that Sean Dylan Bowen is one of the best young riders around.

Bowen has ridden more winners for James Owen's burgeoning operation than any other trainer, with an impressive 24% strike rate, and has finished top three in more than 50% of his rides for the stable.

He switched to Britain after gaining plenty of experience in his native Ireland and handily, he knows James Owen's gelding very well having already ridden him 20 times.

James Owen has only had the horse for one outing, when he faded late over 1m2f at Yarmouth.

He was well fancied that day, and travelled really strongly before not quite getting home, so the drop in trip and addition of a visor today should help him to get home. Owen is four from 10 when using this form of headgear first time.

Before switching to Ireland he had looked progressive in winning three of his last four starts for Clive Cox, and with his Irish trainer John Nallen retaining ownership this looks just the sort of opportunity he was sent over here to exploit.

3.00 Leicester - Golden Duke @ 10/1

Nigel Tinkler's gelding was an overnight market springer on his second outing of the season at Doncaster last Saturday, and despite not getting home that day he can repay those who keep the faith.

He is entitled to come on for that run after only returning for the season in July, as he travelled into the race sweetly, just looking to lack a bit of fitness late on.

Dropped another 2lb, he is now 1lb below his mark when winning on his third run back last season, and off the same rating as when winning over this course and distance on his only start here in June 2022.

Those wins came 10 and 11 days after a previous run, so the eight-day gap this time should be seen as a positive and with his favoured fast ground looking assured he can get off the mark for the season.

3.40 Ripon - Oosterpark @ 8/1

A small field for this 1m4f handicap but a really competitive field and I fancy Ed Bethell's handicap debutant to come out on top.

Monsieur Melee is definitely capable of winning more races this year but he looks to need softer ground and/or a longer trip to be seen at his best, and will be one to follow when he gets those conditions.

This test looks too sharp for him, whereas it could be ideal for Oosterpark based on his eye-catching effort on his second novice start.

Having only hit the course in June, he was sent off at 150/1 against some regally-bred opposition over today's trip at Doncaster.

He belied those huge odds to be beaten only 6 1/2 lengths behind well-bred Gosden and Appleby inmates.

He was extremely green on that second start, and wasn't asked for too much effort when his winning chance had gone, merely coasting home.

The horse who finished behind him, beaten five lengths further, has been given a rating of 80 after another good novice run, while the horse who finished just ahead of the selection, running a similar race, has subsequently won a novice and been given a rating of 84.

It's easy to forgive his third start when pulling too hard on good to soft ground at Leicester, and from a mark of 72 he looks to have excellent claims this afternoon as a course his trainer does well at.

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.