Wednesday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

This looks a competitive 0-105 handicap hurdle but preference goes to Kapitaliste (best priced at 15/8) who has shown improved form on his last two starts since being fitted with a visor. The Alexandra Dunn trained six-year-old won here over 2m2f on his penultimate start off a mark of 79 by 2 ¼ lengths before following up a week ago over the same course and distance by 19 lengths off a 5lb higher mark.

Kapitaliste now drops back slightly in trip to 2m1f and runs here under a 7lb penalty. The handicapper has raised the gelding 11lbs for his wide margin success last time so he runs here 4lbs “well in” at the weights and I expect him to prove hard to beat.

Four previous course and distance winners dominate the betting for this 0-115 handicap but preference goes to Sword Of Fate (best priced at 4/1) who is the only one of the four to come here following a victory last time. The Leonard Kerr trained nine-year-old is a two-time course and distance winner in the past who got his head back in front last time on his return to chasing.

Sword Of Fate won by a head at Perth last month under Derek Fox off a mark of 101 and should prove hard to beat under the same rider off a 3lb higher mark. Tonto’s Spirit is another who has shown good form at Cartmel throughout his career but he was disappointing only two days ago at the track and Lermoos Legend was disappointing on his reappearance when beaten 24 lengths in 5th. Sword Of Fate gets a weight swing with that rival from a race last season and I expect him to follow up his recent success.

The Tim Easterby trained May Punch (best priced at 11/4) got off the mark over this course and distance a week ago and should prove hard to beat under a 6lb penalty. The three-year-old son of Mayson appreciated the drop in class to a 0-60 handicap on turf last time over this course and distance where he showed a good attitude to win by half a length under David Allen.

The handicapper has raised May Punch 7lbs for that victory but he instead runs here under a 6lb penalty meaning that he is 1lb “well in” at the weights in this race. David Allen retains the ride and the only course winner in the line-up should prove hard to beat.