Friday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

The Ruth Carr trained CITY WANDERER (best priced at 11/2) comes into this race having run well over this course and distance earlier this month and he should be involved in the finish once again. The six-year-old is yet to win on the AW but finished 2nd on his penultimate start here off a mark of 46 before finishing 3rd last time off a mark of 48 when only beaten ¾ length at the finish.

The handicapper has raised City Wanderer 2lbs for that run-up to a mark of 50 but he runs here instead of off his previous mark of 48 making him 2lbs “well in” at the weights. James Sullivan takes over from 3lb claimer Zak Wheatley which is a positive and he should run well from Stall 5.  

SUBASTAR (best priced at 15/8) has been well backed in the overnight markets but I do still think he is the most likely winner of this listed contest. It is rare for a Roger Varian trained winning newcomer to go off 14/1 so the son of Sea Of The Stars obviously wasn’t showing a huge amount in his work but the form of that debut win over a mile here is working out well. The second Dawn Of Liberation (runs in the 1:30 Goodwood today) won on his next start, the third Symbol Of Light has won his next three starts and even the fourth Magisterial has won his next two starts. 

Connections won this race in 2019 with the once-raced colt UAE Jewel so it is clearly a race that they target and I expect Subastar to win this despite having to concede race fitness to his three rivals. 

The Sylvester Kirk trained CICELY (best priced at 9/2) appears to save her best for Wolverhampton so she is worth backing on his return to this venue. The three-year-old daughter of The Gurkha is 2/2 over this course and distance having won here in January off a mark of 53 and on her penultimate start in February off a mark of 56. Both of those victories have come under Oliver Stammers who retains the ride and claims 3lbs off her back today. 

Cicely was disappointing last time at Lingfield but this return to Wolverhampton will suit her well and she is expected to go well off only a 1lb higher mark than her victory in February with four places on offer.