Friday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

The David Thompson trained MACTAVISH (best priced at 17/2) finished a close 2nd over this course and distance earlier this month and he should hold strong claims off the same mark with first time cheekpieces added. The five-year-old is 0-7 in his career to date but has outrun odds of 14/1, 25/1 and 28/1 to finish 3rd, 2nd and 2nd in those contests.

Mactavish was only beaten 1 ¼ lengths over this course and distance 14 days ago off a mark of 88 and in my opinion is quite lucky to be able to run here off the same mark. Peter Kavanagh once again claims 5lbs off his back and I expect him to run well in first time cheekpieces with up to four places available.

The William Knight trained DUAL IDENTITY (best priced at 11/8) has looked extremely progressive this season and he was unlucky to be drawn on the wrong side in the Cambridgeshire here last time. The four-year-old has improved 20lbs so far this season with two wins and five places from eight runs including a close 3rd in the Cambridgeshire Handicap last time.

Dual Identity was poorly drawn that day in Stall 6 and did best of those who raced on the far side with the winner (26), second (19), fourth (17), fifth (13) and sixth (25) all racing near side. The handicapper has raised him 4lbs for that run which is fair and I expect him to prove hard to beat off top weight.

Trainer Shaun Lycett has his string in good form currently and I expect TORCELLO (best priced at 17/2) to run well if the blinkers have the same effect for a second time. The eight-year-old won in October last year at Goodwood off a mark of 88 and he runs here off a 4lb lower mark this season. He had appeared to have lost his way earlier this season but looked revitalised by first time blinkers at Doncaster last time when 2nd over 1m6f on heavy ground.

That run came off a mark of 86 and Torcello instead runs here off a mark of 83 which in fact makes him 1lb “well in” at the weights in this race. He has won three times at Newmarket in his career including over this course and distance last season off a 2lb higher mark and I expect him to run well with up to four places available.