Friday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

Dandy Spirit (best priced at 6/4) disappointed on his first three starts for Roger Fell but was an impressive winner last time at Pontefract. The five-year-old won in impressive style by 4 ¼ lengths last time under Jonny Peate when making all over 6f and he shouldn’t be inconvenienced by this drop down to 5f.

Connections re-fitted blinkers last time having run in a hood on his previous two starts and if that headgear works again for a second time then Dandy Spirit should prove hard to beat. The handicapper has raised him 8lbs for that success but he instead runs here under a 5lb penalty so he is 3lbs “well in” for this race and should be able to follow up.

The Neil Mulholland trained Agent Saonois (best priced at 9/2) got off the mark over hurdles here last time and he should hold strong claims off a 2lb lower mark. The six-year-old won over this course and distance by 2 ½ lengths under inexperienced 10lb claimer Thomasina Eyston from 2lbs out of the handicap.

The handicapper has raised Agent Saonois up to a mark of 77 so he runs here 6lbs “well in” at the weights and he should prove hard to beat with Harry Reed taking over.   

The Ian Williams trained Speedo Boy (best priced at 8/1) has won this race twice previously and he should make a bold bid for a third win in this race. The eight-year-old won this race in 2018 off a mark of 93 before winning off a mark of 87 last year and he looks well handicapped once again off a mark of 89. 

Connections have given Speedo Boy a wind operation since his disappointing reappearance run at Chester in May and this will have no doubt been his long term target. Richard Kingscote, who has ridden him twice previously, takes over on board and he looks overpriced to upset the short priced favourite Mostly Cloudy who bids for a five-timer.