Steve Ryder's Tuesday Racing Tips

ELKSTONE (best priced at 7-2) has won the last two renewals of this race and despite having to overcome a 370 day absence, he looks the most likely winner. The ten-year-old won this race by 12 lengths in 2019 off a mark of 112 before following up last year by ½ length off the same mark. Both of those victories have been under Sean Bowen who retains the ride and he is now only 2lb higher than last year.

Caroline Bailey had a 19 length winner with her only runner in October so far on Sunday and Elkstone is expected to overcome his absence and complete a hat-trick of wins in this race.

This field is full of progressive, unexposed three-year olds but preference goes to FORZA ORTA (best priced at 10-3) who should benefit from this step up to 1m4f for the first time. The Kevin Ryan trained gelding has looked progressive on each start and looks to have improved with every step up in trip on the way.

Forza Orta finished 1 ¼ lengths behind Mahrajaan at this course in July over 1m2f and that rival has boosted the form with two wins since and is now rated 95. Following that run, Forza Orta finished ¾ length behind Sea La Rosa who is now rated 99 having finished 3rd in a Group 3 at Newmarket before getting off the mark at Hamilton last time with an easy four length success. Forza Orta now returns to handicap company off a mark of 79 and the son of Fastnet Rock should prove hard to beat upped in trip to nearly 1m4f for the first time.

The Robert Cowell trained BLUE DE VEGA (best priced at 10-3) is the only previous course winner in the field and the eight-year-old should prove hard to on his return to this venue. He finished a close 2nd behind Tis Marvellous in September 2020 before winning over this course and distance the following month on heavy ground off a mark of 100.

Blue De Vega won earlier this season at Doncaster off a mark of 91 and despite finishing well beaten on his next three starts, the gelding has now dropped back down to a mark of 92. He showed last season that he can handle bad ground over this course and distance and is expected to prove hard to beat under Tom Marquand.