Thursday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

The Derby has an open look to it currently and an impressive winner of this race could see a new favourite for the Epsom Classic. The better ground is a slight unknown for EL BODEGON (best priced at 10/3) but I do feel he should be favourite for this Group 2 Dante Stakes. The James Ferguson trained son of Kodiac ended last season with two impressive victories in France including when beating the current Derby favourite Stone Age by 1 ½ lengths in a Group 1 at Saint Cloud in October.

El Bodegon has to concede race fitness to the likes of Magisterial and Bluegrass in this race but I struggle to see why Desert Crown is a shorter price than him off the back of only a maiden victory at Nottingham in November. Daniel Muscutt rode him in his first two races so should know him well and I expect El Bodegon to win this race.

Chris Wall has started this season in good form with his yard operating at a 31% strike rate in 2022 and I think BAGUE D’OR (best priced at 9/4) should be good enough to win on his reappearance. The four-year-old looked progressive last season with two handicap victories last season including on his reappearance at Yarmouth. He won again last season at Newmarket (July course) over 1m4f following an 85 day break giving the impression that he puts in his best performances when fresh.

Bague D’Or ended last season with a close 2nd at Yarmouth off a mark of 81 and he should hold strong claims in this race off only a 1lb higher mark.

COAL STOCK (best priced at 6/5) had previously struggled for form this season but has shown improvement since joining the Tizzard stable and is 2/2 for the stable. The seven-year-old was previously rated 117 in October but had plummeted down the weights to a rating of 103 following three below-par runs when trained by Harriet Brown. He won easily at Chepstow on his stable debut in April by 12 lengths despite a couple of jumping errors before defying a 10lb rise to win by 3 ½ lengths at Fontwell last time when upped in trip back to 2m3f.

Coal Stock runs here 4lbs “well in” at the weights and once again gets the assistance of Harry Kimber taking off 5lb who rode him excellently last time. He actually drops in class from a 0-120 handicap into a 0-115 handicap so I expect him to prove hard to beat once again and make it 3/3 for the Tizzard yard.