Friday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

This looks like a weak 0-60 handicap and I am willing to take a chance on Ectocross (best priced at 40/1) who makes his handicap debut in this race. The three-year-old makes his stable debut for Simon Dow having finished down the field in three novice races when trained by Jim Boyle. Those were in strong contests at Newbury and Salisbury on turf over trips of 7f and a mile.

Ectocross makes his handicap debut off an opening mark of 58 and interestingly has been off for 133 days since his last start in October. He has drifted out to a big price this morning and he looks worth backing at the prices with four places on offer upped in trip to 1m2f for the first time on his AW debut.

Originally will no doubt prove popular on his handicap debut but preference instead goes to Deed Pole (best priced at 9/4) who ran well on his handicap debut last week. The Anthony Carson trained gelding finished well beaten in three maiden/novice races at Kempton, Chelmsford and Southwell before showing improvement last week when switched to handicaps.

Deed Pole was only beaten ¾ length in 2nd that day over a mile here off an opening mark of 60 and the handicapper has raised him 1lb for that effort. He instead runs here off the same mark meaning that he is 1lb “well in” at the weights and I expect him to prove hard to beat under regular rider William Carson.

This looks a competitive 0-75 handicap despite there only being four runners but Bashful Boy (best priced at 5/4) should prove hard to beat under a 4lb penalty. The David Pipe trained seven-year-old is unexposed on the flat over this trip and looked to appreciate the step up to 2 miles last time over this course and distance when an easy five length winner.

The handicapper has raised Bashful Boy 6lbs for that victory but he instead runs here under a 4lb penalty meaning that he is 2lbs “well in” at the weights. Jamie Spencer takes over from Rob Hornby and I expect him to prove hard to beat.