Friday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

The Chris Dwyer trained Sir Oliver (best priced at 11/2) has been running consistently well so far this year on the AW with form figures of 53215 and he is now worth taking a chance on back on turf off a 10lb lower mark. The five-year-old won over 7f at Chelmsford in June off a mark of 89 before finishing only two lengths behind the winner Mobadra of a mark of 90 on his latest start. 

Sir Oliver now switches back to turf off a 10lb lower mark dropping from a 0-90 handicap into a 0-80 handicap back over a course and distance that he won at in June 2021. Silvestre De Sousa maintains the partnership with the horse and I expect him to run well with four places available.  

Shalfa (best priced at 2/1) had disappointed on his first three starts since joining the Marco Botti stable but put in a career best performance last time at Yarmouth when dropped down to 7f and fitted with blinkers for the first time. The three-year-old filly raced keenly throughout the contest, including when jumping the path, but led for most of that contest until she was headed in the final 100 yards of the race. 

The handicapper has raised Shalfa 1lb for that 2nd placed effort but she still gets to run here off a mark of 57 meaning she is 1lb “well in” at the weights and I expect her to prove hard to beat with Stefano Cherchi taking off a helpful 3lbs. 

The Madeline Cup handicap this year looks a trappy four runner race but preference goes to Birkenhead (best priced at 2/1) who should prove hard to beat if repeating his run last time in a better race at York. The Paul Midgley trained five-year-old sprung a surprise last time at York winning at 25/1 off a mark of 67 in a competitive 20 runner Class 4 0-80 handicap (Jump Jockeys’ Nunthorpe) when refitted with a visor for the first time since October 2019.

The handicapper has raised Birkenhead 4lbs for that victory up to a mark of 71 but that still means he is well handicapped on old form (was previously rated as high as 80). Connections have booked Alex Fielding to take off 7lbs in this race and if he can repeat the form of his last run in this Class 5 0-70 handicap off top weight then he should prove hard to beat.