Following an 17/2 winner yesterday, Steve Ryder is back with three tips from today's action.
15:00 Newmarket
The Harry & Roger Charlton trained Ashky (best priced at 9/1) has a good record in Newmarket handicaps and she should once again be involved in the finish of this race. The four-year-old has a consistent profile with form figures of 11313 in handicaps with all of those five runs coming at either Newmarket courses. Her first two victories came at the July course under William Buick before winning on the Rowley Mile by ½ length under Jim Crowley off a mark of 82.
Ashky finished a close 3rd on her final start last season off a mark of 87 and she runs here off the same mark. William Buick is unbeaten on her so his booking is a positive and she should run well with up to five places available.
15:15 Tipperary
This looks a very weak 80-95 handicap hurdle so I am willing to take a chance on Prioritise (best priced at 8/1) on her handicap debut over hurdles. The John McConnell trained five-year-old was previously rated as high as 81 when trained by James Tate before placing for James McAuley off marks of 70 and 75 last season.
Prioritise has joined John McConnell for a hurdling campaign this season but she has showed very little with form figures of 000 having been sent off 80/1, 150/1 and 125/1. She now runs here off an opening handicap mark of 93 which should mean she is well handicapped in comparison to her flat mark and I think she is worth taking a chance on with Brian Hayes retaining the ride.
19:30 Southwell
The Julie Camacho trained Northbound (best priced at 9/4) won over this course and distance in Class 5 company and he should hold strong claims in this Class 6 handicap off only a 2lb higher mark. The five-year-old had gradually dropped down the weights from a high of 80 to a mark of 56 last time when he showed a good attitude to win by a short head under Paul Hanagan.
Northbound won a Class 5 0-70 handicap last time but now drops into a Class 6 0-60 handicap meaning that he faces a worse quality of opponent in this race. The handicapper has only raised him 2lbs which is fair and he should prove hard to beat off a mark of 58.
