Following a 7/1 winner yesterday, Steve Ryder has three tips for today's racing.
12:35 Kempton
The Julia Feilden trained OUD METHA BRIDGE (best priced at 6-1) could only finish 6th in this race last season but won over this course and distance later that month off a mark of 62 by two lengths. The seven-year-old runs in the race this year off a mark of 61 so he looks well handicapped and is interesting dropped back down to Class 6 company.
Oud Metha Bridge finished 3rd over this course and distance off a mark of 65 earlier this year so we know he is well suited by these conditions and he should prove hard to beat off top weight in this 0-60 handicap.
13:05 Kempton
The second division of the race looks a more open contest and I am going to take a chance on the Tony Carroll trained ASK THE WIND (best priced at 14-1) at a big price. The daughter of Zoffany ran her best races as a two-year-old when 2nd at Goodwood in a nursery off a mark of 64 under Hollie Doyle before finishing a neck 2nd in another nursery at Newcastle later that month off the same mark.
That close 2nd at Newcastle was Ask The Wind’s only start on the AW so she is extremely interesting back on the AW off a much reduced mark of 55. She returns now following a short break (88 days) and connections have now decided to fit her first time cheekpieces in this race. Hollie Doyle and Tony Carroll are +8.88 so far this season when teaming up on the AW and Ask The Wind looks worth backing with four places on offer.
15:05 Kempton
Fellow course and distance winner Dubai Future is respected in receipt of weight from HAMISH (best priced at 13-8) but the latter is less exposed and should be able to resume his progression back down in trip. The William Haggas trained five-year-old defeated four-time Group 3 winner Hukum in the September Stakes over this course and distance in September on his first start for 442 days before finding the 2 mile trip too far in the Long Distance Cup on Champions Day behind the likes of Trueshan and Stradivarius.
The William Haggas stable continue in good form at the moment with a 22% strike rate in the last two weeks and I expect Hamish to make it 2/2 on the AW in his career back down to 1m4f.
