Steve Ryder's Saturday Racing Tips

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Roger Varian won this race in 2014 with Group 1 winner Belardo and also last season with Saint Lawrence and I expect his representative this year BAYSIDE BOY (best priced at 6-4) to prove hard to beat this year. There is no doubt that Group 2 runner-up Masekela sets the standard on form as a result of his short head 2nd at Newmarket last time but I thought Bayside Boy looked a top class prospect following his debut win over this course and distance 29 days ago.

Bayside Boy cost 200,000gns as a yearling and made the perfect debut beating the Gosden trained favourite Find (sent off 1/3) by 3 ¼ lengths a month ago. That rival had previously spilt Group 2 winner Lusail and exciting Godolphin colt Noble Truth at Newmarket which looked a strong contest on paper. The Roger Varian yard are still operating at a 30% strike rate currently and I expect Bayside Boy to prove hard to beat stepped up in class.

The top weight MAKAWEE (best priced at 10-1) has been slightly disappointing on her previous two starts but is interesting dropping back down into a handicap for the first time since September last year. The David O’Meara trained mare won over this distance of 1m6f at Goodwood off a mark of 100 so this mark of 101 shouldn’t be out of reach. Following that victory, she finished a short head behind Alpinista in a listed race at Goodwood over 1m4f before two 3rd placed finishes at York at Group 3 and listed level.

Makawee went off too quickly last time at Goodwood behind Wonderful Tonight but the July course at Newmarket should really suit her front running style. It is a shame that only seven runners have been declared but I would still recommend backing her each way as she may find one of her less exposed rivals too good.

The Tim Easterby trained Staxton (best priced at 7-1) has a fantastic record at Ripon and his whole season appears to have to been targeted around this race. The six-year-old has won on his previous three starts over this course and distance including in this race last year off a mark of 88. He won again over this course and distance in April off a mark of 91 and is only 1lb higher in this race.

Staxton ran well to finish 4th on his penultimate start at Hamilton in the Scottish Stewards’ Cup and the form of that race is working out extremely well. The winner Commanche Falls followed up in the Stewards’ Cup on his next start, the runner-up Music Society has finished 2nd at York and 4th in the Stewards’ Cup since and the 3rd Mr Wagyu won the Stewards’ Cup consolation race on his next start so Staxton looks extremely well handicapped off 1lb lower. Duran Fentiman has been on board for his four previous victories so it is a positive that he is back on board and I find it difficult to see him out of the frame with seven places on offer.