Saturday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

The Alan King trained RAYMOND TUSK (best priced at 15/2) made a winning reappearance this season and that race-fitness could mean he takes this Group 3 prize. The seven-year-old returned back to the flat following three below-par efforts over hurdles when making a winning reappearance at Doncaster in a conditions race. He won easily over 1m4f that day to win by four lengths under Martin Harley and it is worth remembering that he showed some high-class form last season.

Raymond Tusk finished 2nd in the Ebor handicap off a mark of 99 before finishing 2nd in the Duke Of Edinburgh handicap off a mark of 102. With a rating of 106 he has 4lbs to find with the favourite Thunderous in this race but he has the benefit of race fitness over that rival and I think he will run well.

The Julie Camacho trained MAKANAH (best priced at 5/1) and has a really consistent record at Musselburgh and has shown good form fresh in the past. The seven-year-old gelding has form figures of 1123 at the course with his two defeats only coming by a short head and ¼ length last season. 

Makanah defeated the 105 rated Danzeno in the Flying Scotsman Stakes in 2020 before only finishing a short head behind Mokaatil in the race last season. Those performances came over this course and distance and he now returns back to this venue having dropped a few pounds in the handicap down to a mark of 97. That is his lowest mark since a victory at Newmarket in June 2020 and I think he will run well with four places on offer. 

Despite ERIC BLOODAXE (best priced at 18/1) suffering heavy defeats in his previous two starts, he looks overpriced for this novice handicap hurdle off top weight now he is dropped markedly in class. The Joseph O’Brien trained seven-year-old was a high-class bumper horse who defeated Ferny Hollow and Wide Receiver early on in his career before winning on his hurdling debut at Naas by eight lengths. He finished 2nd behind Ginto in a Grade 2 at Navan before winning a Grade 2 at Limerick by 7 ½ lengths on his next start. 

Eric Bloodaxe finished beaten 73 lengths and 85 lengths at the Dublin Racing Festival and the Cheltenham Festival on his next two starts but now drops back into handicap company off a mark of 133 and is interesting fitted with first-time blinkers for this race. Shane Fitzgerald also takes off a handy 5lbs and I think he will outrun his odds with up to six places on offer.