Friday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

Both NORTH LINCOLN (best priced at 15/8) and Truly Aclaimed hold strong claims at the top of the weights but I prefer the chances of the Sir Mark Prescott trained colt because of his good recent run over this course and distance. The son of Acclamation showed good form in his first three career starts including when defeating a subsequent winner at Southwell in January.

North Lincoln made his handicap debut last time over this course and distance off a mark of 76 and he ran well to finish 2nd only ¾ length behind the favourite Haymaker. The handicapper has raised him 4lbs for that effort but he gets to run here off his previous mark of 76 which makes him 4lbs “well in” at the weights for this race. With that course and distance experience over his main market rival, I feel North Lincoln will prove hard to beat in this race.  

Many of the runners in this 0-105 handicap have questions to answer in regards to recent form so the most solid option is probably SILVER SAMURAI (best priced at 9/2) who finished 3rd at Ascot on his most recent start. The Marco Botti trained five-year-old finished only two lengths behind Aratus over 7f on his only start at Newbury in his career last season off a mark of 87 and he runs here off the same mark today.

Silver Samurai was only beaten a short head on his reappearance at Kempton in March before bouncing back from a disappointing effort at Haydock to finish 3rd at Ascot a week ago. He was only beaten three lengths that day over this trip of 6f and he should run well with William Buick taking over from Neil Callan.

It would be great to see Stradivarius win a third Yorkshire Cup but his form looks slightly regressive and he could prove vulnerable on his reappearance as an eight-year-old entire especially with the mare Search For A Song in the field. I am willing to take a chance on the Charlie & Mark Johnston trained THUNDEROUS (best priced at 10/1) who ran well to finish 2nd in the Group 3 Ormonde Stakes at Chester earlier this month on his first start over further than 1m4f. The gelded son of Night Of Thunder won the Dante Stakes at this meeting in 2020 on his only start at York in the style of a horse who would appreciate this type of distance in the future. 

Thunderous was disappointing on his reappearance behind the reopposing Max Vega at Newbury over 1m4f but his run last time at Chester gives the impression that he could be a horse to keep an eye on over these extended distances this season. He could get an easy lead under Franny Norton in this race and I think he will outrun his odds and is the most likely to upset the favourite.