Wednesday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

The favourite Val De Travers is respected under a 5lb penalty but preference instead goes to the Grant Tuer trained MOKAMAN (best priced at 4/1) who looks well handicapped on his return to turf. The four-year-old has a good record at Catterick with form figures of 121 over this course and distance including his latest victory off a mark of 64 in June. 

Following five below par efforts on the AW so far in 2022, Mokaman has dropped down from a mark of 66 down to 53 which makes him look extremely well handicapped on his return to turf. Top apprentice Oli Stammers is a great booking by connections and I expect him to put up a huge challenge to the favourite.

The Tim Vaughan trained TRIXSTER (best priced at 7/4) won by an impressive 17 lengths at Southwell last week and he should prove hard to beat under a 7lb penalty. The nine-year-old has been in consistent form recently with form figures of 1331 but his latest victory came in the style of a horse who relished the switch to chasing from hurdling. 

Trixster won easily by 17 lengths at the finish which the handicapper has raised him 10lbs for that victory. He instead runs here under a 7lb penalty so he is 3lbs “well in” at the weights and I think he can follow up here on only his third run over fences.

The Aidan O’Brien trained SUN KING (best priced at 11/8) has achieved an official rating of 92 in his four runs so far in his career and a repeat effort should see him hard to beat with the benefit of a recent run. The son of Galileo has finished beaten favourite on his latest three starts but this looks a weaker race that he is contesting today. 

Sun King finished 2 ½ lengths behind impressive debutant winner Wexford Native last time at Navan and it seems significant that his rival still holds a 2000 Guineas entry. Sir Antonino looks his biggest rival in this race but he is rated 7lbs lower than the selection but runs against him off level weights. Furthermore, Sir Antonino and Kaliysta are both making their reappearances meaning that Sun King has the benefit of a recent run which should make him hard to beat.