Steve Ryder Friday Racing Tips

Both Cool Spirit and BRAZEN ARROW (best priced at 3-1) are 2lbs “well in” at the weights in this race but preference goes to the latter who looks sure to benefit from this drop back in trip to 5f. The Christine Dunnett trained four-year-old won impressively at Wolverhampton on his penultimate start by three lengths having made all in the 6f contest.

Kieran O’Neill tried to employ the same tactics at this course last time and built a lead of five lengths but just tired late on and was caught by the winner. The handicapper has raised Brazen Arrow 2lbs for that run but he gets the run here off his previous mark of 52 so he should prove hard to beat employing those same tactics over this 5f trip.

Judex Lefou is respected if allowed to take his chance in this race having raced yesterday but preference instead goes to the David Dennis trained WHAT A GLANCE (best priced at 15-2). The seven-year-old won on his stable debut in November by 16 lengths off a mark of 101 before finishing a close 3rd at Southwell on his next start. He disappointed at Ludlow behind the well handicapped Green Book but put in a much improved performance last time at Huntingdon following a wind operation.

What A Glance ran on well over the 2m4f trip that day shaping like this extra furlong will suit and connections have also fitted first time cheekpieces on the gelding for this race. That should make the job of David Bass easier and I expect him to run well with up to four places available.

The Philip Hobbs trained SMARTY WILD (best priced at 5-2) has shown his best form at Kempton and he should hold strong claims in this race down in class. The eight-year-old won a competitive handicap here in January 2021 over 2m4f off a mark of 130 before finishing 3rd over the same course and distance later that year off a mark of 136.

Smarty Wild ran well to finish 2nd over this course and distance last time when upped in trip to 3 miles where he finished only two lengths behind Caribean Boy off a mark of 131. That race was a Class 2 0-150 handicap so despite the handicapper raising him 3lbs up to a mark of 134, this Class 3 0-140 handicap represents a drop in class for him. He faces the well backed Mellow Ben who has been given a chance by the handicapper but I much prefer the claims of Smarty Wild instead who is in consistent form.