Ross Millar's Monday tips: Cross has "outstanding chance"

She’s back and maybe, just maybe, she’s better than ever. Honeysuckle destroyed a decent field in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle on Sunday and if she gets to Cheltenham in March in one piece, I certainly won’t be opposing her.

Her win provided an upturn in fortune for trainer Henry de Bromhead and jockey Rachael Blackmore. On Saturday, Eklat De Rire disappointed in the Ladbrokes Trophy, while Mr Incredible was firmly put in his place by the ultra-impressive Ahoy Senor.

Ahoy Senor looks a horse for who the sky is the limit. His win on Saturday came on just his fifth start under Rules, so the scope for improvement is huge. If he’s to be a factor at the Cheltenham Festival, his jumping will need to become more assured, but in Lucinda Russell and Peter Scudamore he has two top-class tutors.

Let’s hope some rain falls this week to provide good field sizes for next weekend’s Becher Chase and, of course, the Tingle Creek.

Monday’s jump racing action comes from Ayr which you can watch live on Racing TV, and I have three selections. Best of luck, and please remember to gamble responsibly.

As reflected by the betting, this looks to be a wide-open contest.

Rapid Raider could well prove that the 7lb rise for his recent Bangor success still leaves him on a fair mark but, I’m not convinced.

His victory at Bangor was by some distance his best performance and I’m never keen to rely on one piece of form that bucks the trend of the general profile.

Eagle De Guye has shown a good level of form, without yet getting his head in front, and comes from a yard that have been among the winners. He does lack a recent run, though, and all signs suggest he would prefer a few extra furlongs.

Ardera Cross has been a super horse for owner-trainer William Young Jnr. The ten-year-old was bought out of the Dan Skelton yard and has gone on to win nine races, over both hurdles and fences, on ground ranging from good to heavy, and over trips ranging from 16 to 22 furlongs. I think we can all agree it was £1,000 well spent!

He arrives here on the back of a creditable third at this track where he faded late on having probably paid the price for trying to take on the exceptionally well-handicapped Dr Sanderson.

On the forecast good to soft ground, I would expect stepping up in trip to aid his cause and I think he has an outstanding chance of making this win number ten for the yard.

This race looks short on strength in depth. I was impressed, and largely surprised, by how well this son of Jeremy finished at Carlisle on his last start. He was very keen and pulled hard through the race – showing all the signs of a horse that would have nothing left to offer in the closing stages.

However, it’s to his credit that he rallied well after the last hurdle, despite being hampered, and closed on the winner all the way to the line.

With only three starts under his belt, he has plenty of scope for improvement, and it’s also realistic to hope that the recent run might have taken the edge of freshness off him, which will allow him to expend his energy more efficiently this time.

He looks, by some way, to have the most potential in this field and I’d be disappointed if he couldn’t take advantage of his opening mark of 112.

Le Cheval Noir looks likely to be sent off favourite and it’s easy to see why as his chase mark is 4lb below his hurdle rating plus this step up in trip is going to suit better than the trip he made his chasing debut over.

This looks a decent little race, though, and keep an eye out for late money for Sunset West as his colourful owner isn’t shy of having a bet.

Cadeyrn looked a horse with potential when last seen but it would be an exceptional training performance if Michael Scudamore can ready him to win after 1354 days off the track.

Sam Drinkwater wouldn’t have the biggest team of horses but he’s operating at a good strike-rate so far this season. He sends Buzz De Turcoing on the 660-mile round trip from his Tewkesbury base and I think that’s a sign worth paying attention to.

He looks reasonably handicapped off a rating of 123 having finished in front of the 133-rated Torn And Frayed when winning a maiden hurdle at Haydock.

His chase debut was full of promise, and he ran way above market expectation when giving the 141-rated Ashtown Lad a race before eventually being beaten by a comfortable four lengths.

James Bowen was on board for the Wetherby outing and travels up to Ayr for just one ride. I think the Drinkwater team might find the return journey the most enjoyable leg of the trip.