Steve Ryder has three selections for Friday's racing.
15:05 Ascot
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Despite this 0-105 handicap only attracting five runners, it looks a competitive contest and preference goes to the three-year-old LOVE IS GOLDEN (best priced at 6-4). The Mark Johnston trained colt has bounced back to form on his previous two starts with a victory at Chester and a 2nd placed finish at Hamilton a week ago.
Love Is Golden only found the progressive Mahrajaan too good at Hamilton last time but finished two lengths clear of the third and as a result the handicapper has decided to raise the colt 2lb for that effort. He instead runs here off his previous mark of 87 so is 2lb “well in” at the weights and I expect him to prove hard to beat with Silvestre De Sousa riding him for the first time.
16:10 Ascot
The Clive Cox trained LOUIE DE PALMA (best priced at 5-1) has a good record over this course and distance in his career with form figures of 1134. The gelding previously won here in May 2019 off a mark of 89 before running well to finish 4th in the Silver Wokingham last season off a mark of 95.
Following that run, Louie De Palma completely lost his form and dropped down to a career low mark of 79 which he capitalised on at Windsor when victorious by ¾ length. The nine-year-old runs here under a 4lb penalty which still means he is incredibly well handicapped on old form and the return to Ascot should be enough for him to defy that penalty. Regular rider Adam Kirby takes back over from Hector Crouch and the pair should run well in this 0-85 handicap.
16:20 Newcastle
It was a pleasant surprise to see DESIGNER (best priced at 10-1) make such an encouraging debut at Kempton 23 days ago given that she was sent off a completely unfancied 125/1 shot. Despite her being slowly away from the stalls, she made stylish headway 2f out to challenge the top two in the market before weakening into fourth late on over 7f. The daughter of Pearl Secret travelled extremely well into the race that day that this drop back to 6f is a positive and it is also worth noting that she still holds an entry for the Group 2 Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket later this month.
The form of Designer’s previous run has been boosted since with the second Silk Romance winning on her next start by 5 ½ lengths and the third Banshee winning by two lengths on her next start. With bookmakers offering up to four places on the race, I find it difficult to see Designer out of the finish and think she stands a good chance at getting off the mark at the second attempt.
