Friday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

KINONDO KWETU (best priced at 2/1) has a good record under rules for Sam England and he should hold strong claims of making it 4/4 over fences in this race. The six-year-old has form figures of 21111 for the stable in handicaps including three victories over fences off marks of 107, 112 and 117. He won over this course and distance on his penultimate start before following up at Southwell last time by 2 ¼ lengths.

The handicapper has raised Kindondo Kwetu 7lbs for that victory which is fair and I expect him to remain unbeaten over the larger obstacles.

Dr Richard Newland won this race last year with Minella Encore and he looks to hold a good chance of a repeat victory this year with SHETLAND BUS (best priced at 4/1). The nine-year-old had been running consistently well since returning from a break with a second and three thirds before winning easily at Stratford last time by 3 ½ lengths under Luke Scott in a conditional jockeys’ handicap chase.

Shetland Bus escapes a penalty for that success meaning that he runs here 5lbs “well in” at the weights and he should hold strong claims of following up in this race.

The Iain Jardine trained WEE FAT MAC (best priced at 3/1) sprung a surprise last time over this course and distance and he should hold strong claims if he is able to repeat that form. The three-year-old had previously shown very little in his four career starts and that will have been the reason that he was sent off 40/1 last time for his all-weather debut.

Wee Fat Mac won by a short head at the finish off a mark of 60 in an apprentice handicap but gets to run here off a 4lb lower mark of 56. The handicapper has given him a new rating of 63 meaning that he runs here 7lbs “well in” at the weights and that should give him strong claims of following up in this race.