Friday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

Geoffrey Harker had a winner yesterday at Newcastle for the Twelve Minimum Racing Club and I think HAIL SEZER (best priced at 3/1) can provide them with more success today. The five-year-old won over this course and distance in July off a mark of 64 and races here off only a 4lb higher mark.

Following that victory Hail Sexer went on to finish a close 2nd off a mark of 68 before finishing 3rd on his reappearance at Wetherby off a mark of 70. He has dropped a couple of pounds in the handicap recently and he should prove hard to beat back at Doncaster off a mark of 68.

The Jim Goldie trained TANASOQ (best priced at 9/2) won this race last season off a mark of 62 and should hold strong claims running off a 4lb higher mark this year. The nine-year-old finished a neck 2nd on his reappearance at Hamilton off a mark of 58 before finishing 4th at the same track on his next start when only beaten 1 ¼ lengths off a mark of 59.

Tanasoq finished only a neck behind Sixcor at Ayr on his previous start a week ago which the handicapper has raised him 3lbs for up to a mark of 62. He instead gets to run here off a mark of 58 which makes him 4lbs “well in” at the weights and I expect him to prove hard to beat as a result.

The Nigel Tinkler trained ROUNDHAY PARK (best priced at 9/1) has a good record at Chester with form figures of 217 and that recent 7th placed finish can also be upgraded. The seven-year-old finished a close 2nd over 6f here off a mark of 79 before winning over this course and distance in September off a mark of 82. He could only finish 7th on his latest start at the venue in May but he was drawn widest of all in Stall 12 and was also hampered multiple times throughout the race.

Roundhay Park now has the plum draw in Stall 1 for this race and he has also dropped down to a mark of 80 following a below par run at Doncaster earlier this month. This return to Chester will suit and I expect him to run well in this race now dropped in class to a 0-80 handicap with four places available.

ROGUE MILLENNIUM (best priced at 13/8) made huge progress from a debut win in April to running a creditable race in the Oaks only six weeks later and I feel she can win this Group 3 down in trip. The Tom Clover trained three-year-old made a winning debut at Wetherby over this trip before winning the Lingfield Oaks Trial on only her second start. She was supplemented for the Oaks where she looked threatening 2f out before the trip of 1m4f looked too far.

Rogue Millennium is now dropped back down in trip to 1m2f which should suit her well and I expect her to prove hard to beat if she is able to transfer her good turf form onto the AW.