Friday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

This looks a competitive 0-60 apprentice handicap but I am surprised that TAHONTA (best priced at 11/1) is currently available at a double figure price. The Archie Watson trained four-year-old has run well on his three starts since joining Archie Watson from Joe Tuite including when finishing a close 2nd over this course and distance a week ago. 

Tahonta has finished 4th beaten ¾ length and 2nd beaten a length off a mark of 49 and the handicapper has raised him 1lb for his latest effort. Instead, he runs here off a mark of 48 which makes him 2lbs “well in” at the weights and I expect him to run well with up to four places available. 

Recent winners Twilight Madness and Pockley deserve respect but preference instead goes to DOUBLE DEALING (best priced at 6/1) on his second start for Stuart Williams. The four-year-old was a three-time winner on the AW when trained by Richard Fahey and was interestingly dropped in trip from a mile to 5f on his stable debut earlier this month. 

Double Dealing was well supported into favouritism that day in a first time tongue tie but he lost a couple of places late on to finish 4th on his first start for 77 days. The handicapper has dropped him 1lb down to a career low mark of 80 for that 1 ½ length defeat which seems generous and he should run well for an in-form yard who are currently operating at a 33% strike rate in the last two weeks.

Haku won easily over this course and distance last month but is now off a 5lb higher mark and that should mean JUNKANOO (best priced at 11/4) can get back to winning ways on his first attempt at this trip. The Gary Moore trained five-year-old won over 1m3f here in a first time visor on his penultimate start off a mark of 69 before finishing 2nd by 2 ¼ lengths last time off a mark of 73.

Junkanoo has been staying on well over the 1m3f trip here on his previous two starts that this slight step up in trip should suit him well. The handicapper has raised him 2lbs for his latest run up to a mark of 75 but he instead runs here off a mark of 73 which makes him 2lbs “well in” at the weights and he should prove hard to beat under Aidan Keeley.