Steve Ryder's Wednesday Racing Tips

The Eve Johnson Houghton trained Mount Olympus (best priced at 10/1) put in a huge career best last time when upped in trip to 1m6f for the first time and he looks overpriced back in a handicap under a penalty. The gelding was previously rated only 57 but defeated the 77 rated Mellow Magic by a length here last time in a novice race giving her weight which has resulted in the handicapper raising him 18lb up to a mark of 75.

Mount Olympus instead runs here under a 6lb penalty but this means he is also 2lb out of the handicap so runs here in theory off a mark of 65 instead making him 10lb well in at the weights. The son of Olympic Glory had previously shown very moderate form over 1m4f and shorter but stayed on well over 1m6f last time shaping like this further step up to 2 miles would suit and he looks overpriced with up to four places available. 

This nursery handicap is unsurprisingly full of unexposed juveniles but preference goes to the Adrian Keatley trained Ha Long Bay (best priced at 4/1) who has been well supported in the market overnight. The son of Mastercraftsman ran with credit at both Beverley and Redcar over 7f before looking outpaced and suffering interference when dropped down to 6f at Newcastle last time. 

Ha Long Bay now makes his handicap debut off a mark of 66 in this race, is stepped back up to 7f and is also fitted with first-time cheekpieces for this race. Convection is bred to be a lot better than a rating of 67 but she disappointed on her handicap debut last time at Newmarket when only 8th off a 1lb higher mark so preference instead goes to Ha Long Bay on his handicap debut. 

The Archie Watson trained Mighty Gurkha (best priced at 10/3) is 2/2 over this course and distance in his career and he is expected to make a winning handicap debut back at this venue. He has form figures of 11212 on the AW including a Group 3 win over this course and distance as a two-year-old. 

Mighty Gurkha has dropped down 8lb from a rating of 103 to 95 in only four runs on turf where the softer ground wouldn’t have suited him. The Archie Watson stable have been a bit quiet recently but Mighty Gurkha looks off a good mark in his handicap debut and I expect him to prove hard to beat with Hollie Doyle once again on board.