Following a winner yesterday, Steve Ryder is back with three tips for today's action.
12:30 Cartmel
The Jennie Candlish trained Catchmeifyoucan (best priced at 5/1) won this race last season off a mark of 115 and she should hold strong claims off a 2lb lower mark. The eight-year-old came into this race last season following a victory at Uttoxeter and she tries to repeat the same feat this year following her victory over 2m4f 13 days ago.
Catchmeifyoucan placed a further two times off marks of 119 following her victory in this race last season so she is clearly well handicapped off a mark of 113 and I expect her to run well back over this course and distance.
14:05 Cartmel
Many of these are course specialists including Tonto’s Spirit but preference instead goes to Lermoos Legend (best priced at 15/8) who has won both of his starts over this course and distance. The seven-year-old beat the reopposing Sword Of Fate by seven lengths last season in this race before winning over this course and distance last month by 6 ½ lengths off a mark of 107.
Lermoos Legend is off a career high mark of 120 following a close 2nd at Uttoxeter last time but this return to Cartmel should suit him and I expect him to prove hard to beat.
15:00 Ayr
The Jim Goldie trained Classy Al (best priced at 9/2) is already a two-time course and distance winner so far this season and he should make a bold bid once again. The four-year-old gelding defied odds of 22/1 to win over this course and distance off a mark of 54 in April before winning 14 days ago off a mark of 60.
The handicapper has only raised Classy Al 3lbs for that ½ length success which seems lenient and he should be able to cope with this step up in class. Bookmakers are offering up to five places on the race and I would be surprised if he finished out of the frame.
