Tuesday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

MOKTASAAB (best priced at 12/1) won well over this course and distance earlier this season off a mark of 92 and he should run well again off only 3lbs higher. The gelding was bought by Harry Redknapp for 110,000gns from Shadwell and transferred into the care of William Knight where he won his first two starts for new connections including that course and distance victory in April.

Moktasaab went on to finish a close 6th in a competitive Epsom handicap on Oaks day before finishing midfield at Royal Ascot. Both of those were fiercely competitive handicaps and although this is still a Class 2 handicap, he has been dropped 2lbs by the handicapper, he is the only course and distance winner in the field and one of only two horses who have won at the track. Bookmakers are offering up to seven places on this race and I find it difficult to see him not involved in the finish under Callum Shepherd.

Steve Ryder Antepost selection:

The Group 2 Lennox Stakes is often won by a 7f specialist and the horse that falls into that category this year is the Charlie Hills trained POGO (best priced at 6/1). The six-year-old has form figures of 43216511 over this trip at listed level or higher including two Group 3 victories already this season. He beat Laneqash by a nose at Haydock in John Of Gaunt Stakes on his reappearance before defying a penalty to win the Criterion Stakes at Newmarket by two lengths on his previous start.

Pogo finished a close 3rd in the Group 2 Celebration Mile at the course last season showing that he handles the track and he looks the horse with the least question marks in this race. The likes of Alcohol Free, Modern News and Order Of Australia would rate doubtful runners in my opinion and the favourite Aldaary has shown his best form on a softer surface than he will encounter next week. The biggest danger to the selection could be the three-year-old Lusail who has chased home the likes of Perfect Power, Coroebus and Tenebrism so far this season but I feel Pogo looks the one to beat given his form over the trip.

The Geoffrey Harker trained ELDELBAR (best priced at 16/1) hasn’t been beaten far on his previous three runs and he should outrun his odds once again. The eight-year-old is now only 1lb higher than his win at Catterick last season and comes into the race having finished a close 3rd at Redcar last time.

Eldelbar’s confidence has been rediscovered following a drop into claiming company but he is well handicapped back at this level in a 0-70 handicap and I expect him to run well with Jonny Peate taking off a valuable 5lbs.

The Joseph O’Brien trained MIDNIGHT RUN (best priced at 5/4) gained some valuable chasing experience last season behind the likes of Asterion Forlonge, Captain Guinness and Gabynako and he should prove hard to beat in this beginners’ chase. The eight-year-old was last seen over fences falling at the third last when still in contention in the Grade 1 Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse and that fall obviously took a while to get over as he wasn’t seen for another 232 days.

Midnight Run made a winning debut on the flat at Ballinrobe earlier this month over 1m4f by five lengths as a prep run for this race and it seems significant they have chosen to run him at Galway where he made a winning debut in a bumper in 2018 by 5 ½ lengths. Jon Snow would be a danger on his best form but this is his chasing debut and preference therefore goes to Midnight Run.