Friday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

This looks a competitive 0-150 handicap but preference goes to the Richard Hobson trained FUGITIF (best priced at 7/1) who looks well handicapped on his reappearance. The seven-year-old won by 9 ½ lengths on his reappearance last season in a novices’ handicap chase before following up in a similar contest by 3 ¾ lengths at Newcastle off a mark of 131. He then finished a well beaten 4th in the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase before finishing 4th at Chepstow back in handicap company off a mark of 135 on his next start.

Fugitif ran poorly on his final start last season at Aintree but has now dropped back down to his last winning mark of 131 and this looks like the time to catch him fresh. The Richard Hobson stable are in good form in the previous week and hopefully Fugitif can make a winning reappearance. 

The George Boughey trained DANGER ALERT (best priced at 13/8) is a full brother to Group 3 AW winner Eve Lodge and he should prove hard to beat on his AW debut. The son of Ardad finished a neck 2nd on his stable debut last month at Brighton in a novice race where he was given an opening handicap mark of 82. He finished only a length behind Harry’s Halo on his next start at Doncaster when he just seemed to tire late on in the heavy ground.

The handicapper has raised Danger Alert 3lbs for that run up to a mark of 85 but he instead runs here off his previous mark which makes him 3lbs “well in” and I expect him to make a winning AW debut. 

Stall 12 is an obvious negative for the Mark Loughnane trained CIOTOG (best priced at 5/1) but he still looks the most likely winner given his good course form and his rating. The four-year-old won off a mark of 65 over this course and distance in September when victorious by 1 ½ length despite having to wait for room during the race. He was hampered at Chelmsford on his next start at a track that doesn’t suit hold up horses before finishing a short head 2nd back over this course and distance last time when reunited with Thore Hammer Hansen.

Ciotog was unlucky not to win that day as he was hampered in the final furlong and that performance has earnt him a 3lb rise from the handicapper. He can instead run off his previous mark making him 3lbs “well in” and I expect him to run well with four places on offer if getting a clear run from the rear of the field.