Friday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

This looks a very winnable 0-75 handicap and I am willing to take a chance on King Eagle (best priced at 7/1) on his stable debut for Nicky Henderson. I have very little doubt that the plan was to go hurdling this season since he was transferred from the Michael Bell stable but he is now interesting following 214 day off the track.

King Eagle finished 4th on his handicap debut at Ripon in August off a mark of 76 before finishing 3rd beaten only two lengths at Newcastle on his next start off a mark of 73. Since that run he has been gelded and had a wind operation and I am hoping that he can make a winning stable debut in this race.  

Both Eight Mile and Dabbous are respected under 6lb penalties but preference instead goes to the Richard Hughes trained Schumann (best priced at 17/2) on his handicap debut. The three-year-old gelding finished 7th in a strong Sandown maiden behind Arrest on his debut over a mile before being outpaced in two 6f novices races on his next two starts.

Schumann has been given an opening handicap mark of 60 and interestingly he now goes back up in trip to a mile in this race. Connections have fitted him with first time cheekpieces and he should run well with four places available.

I tipped Maharajas Express (best priced at 8/1) last time on his handicap debut where he was well backed from 17/2 into 9/4 favourite but he finished last of eight on that occasion. The Richard Spencer trained three-year-old did have excuses that day though as he was badly hampered during the race and a line can be put through that effort. He made a winning debut at Kempton in November before just failing to concede a penalty in a novice race at Chelmsford in December.

Maharajas Express has been dropped 1lb for his latest run down to a mark of 78 and I am hoping that he can justify the market confidence in him last time.