Thursday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

This looks a competitive 0-105 handicap hurdle but preference goes to WEAVERS ANSWER (best priced at 11/4) who ran well to finish 2nd on his handicap debut when last seen. The Tim Vaughan trained five-year-old was beaten a long way in three novice hurdles before finishing 2nd behind stablemate Colonial Empire on his handicap debut at Ffos Las in December.

The form of that race is working out extremely well with the winner now rated 16lbs higher, the third Barrier Peaks winning his next four starts and is now rated 37lbs higher and even the fifth Half The Freedom winning on his next start and is now 2lbs higher. Weaver’s Answer runs here from the same mark of 78 which makes him 3lbs “well in” at the weights and I expect him to prove hard to beat if returning in the same form.

The Ian Williams trained BUXTED TOO (best priced at 9/4) completed a four-timer last week over this course and distance and he should hold strong claims under a 5lb penalty. His winning sequence started at Kempton off a mark of 68 before following up over this course and distance off a mark of 70.

Buxted Too followed up at Lingfield off a mark of 73 before winning over this course and distance last time by 3 ½ lengths off a mark of 76. The handicapper has raised him 7lbs for that victory up to a mark of 83 but he instead runs here under a 5lb penalty meaning that he is 2lbs “well in” at the weights. Paul Mulrennan has won both times on him over this course and distance and hopefully he can remain unbeaten on the five-year-old.

There are a few horses with different profiles in this race but I am willing to take a chance on THE GATEKEEPER (best priced at 8/1) who hasn’t been seen since running in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2021. The Charlie Johnston trained four-year-old won on his debut at Musselburgh before finishing 2nd behind Chipotle at Ascot on his next start. He contested the Two Year Old Trophy at Beverley and Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot on last two starts but hasn’t been seen since.

The Gatekeeper returns following 625 days off the track having been gelded and this will be his handicap debut off a mark of 85. He steps up in trip to 7f for the first time and it seems significant that he has remained in the ownership of Middleham Park Racing.