Friday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

Connections of One Nation (best priced at 6/5) won a division of this maiden last season with 2021 Champion juvenile and Irish 2000 Guineas winner Native Trail and they look to hold strong claims again this year. The son of Dubawi finished 3rd on his debut at Yarmouth last month behind stablemate Naval Power but it was a run full of promise.

One Nation raced keenly through the early stages of the race and that just meant he weakened in the final 100 yards of the race to finish 2 ¼ lengths behind the winner. The John & Thady Gosden trained Freedom Day is the other horse with experience but the likes of New Endeavour, Forca Timao and Dance In The Grass could all prove dangers on their debuts. However, One Nation ran to a good level on his debut and I expect him to prove hard to beat.

The John O’Shea trained Some Nightmare (best priced at 4/1) has a good record at Chepstow with form figures of 441511 and I expect the gelding to prove hard to beat over this course and distance once again. The five-year-old was progressive last season with four handicap victories last season and he has returned this year in good form once again. The son of Dream Ahead finished 2nd on his first two starts this season off marks of 69 before justifying favouritism to win by a length over this course and distance last time.

The handicapper has raised Some Nightmare 5lbs for that victory but the one length winning distance didn’t do him justice and I expect him to follow up in this race.

All five runners in this 0-90 handicap have a good chance of success but I prefer the chances of Jewel In My Crown (best priced at 9/4) who gets to run here 3lbs “well in” at the weights. The Rae Guest trained four-year-old was progressive last season with three victories including two in handicaps off marks of 75 and 79.

Jewel In My Crown was slightly disappointing on his reappearance at Brighton but bounced back to finish only a neck behind Lucander at Windsor 11 days ago. The handicapper has raised Jewel In My Crown 3lbs for that run up to a mark of 86 but he runs here instead off his previous mark so is 3lbs “well in” at the weights. I think he should be favourite for this race and as a result should prove hard to beat.