Saturday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

The form of the St Leger has taken multiple boosts so far this season and I feel HASKOY (best priced at 16/5) is the most likely winner of this Group 3 on her reappearance. The Ralph Beckett trained four-year-old progressed quickly last season from a seven length novice success at Wolverhampton in July to a listed success at York in August. She was then pitched into Group 1 company in the St Leger where she finished 2nd behind Eldar Eldarov before being subsequently demoted to fourth for causing interference.

In the Yorkshire Cup yesterday, the St Leger fourth Giavellotto won the race and Eldar Eldarov finished a close 2nd conceding 5lbs to the winner. Furthermore, the fifth placed horse Emily Dickinson has also won twice since in Group 3 and listed company before disappointing yesterday in the Saval Beg. Haskoy is fitted with a first time tongue tie for this race and hopefully she can make a winning reappearance under Frankie Dettori.

The Edward O’Grady trained CEROC (best priced at 9/1) won on his handicap debut earlier this month and should run well off only a 7lb higher mark. The five-year-old had previously shown average form in maiden hurdles/bumpers but outran odds of 28/1 to win at Cork over 2m4f following a 79 day break.

That victory came off a mark of 102 in a first-time visor where Ceroc beat the favourite Banks Boy by ½ length with the pair pulling 4 ½ lengths clear of the third. The 7lb rise is fair and this further step up in trip to 3 miles should suit him so I feel he is currently overpriced with four places on offer.

This looks a competitive 0-95 handicap but preference goes to RATHBONE (best priced at 7/1) who has shown good form in this race for the previous two seasons. In 2021, the seven-year-old won this race off a mark of 84 before winning over this course and distance again in July off a mark of 92. Last year he was unlucky not to win it again with him finishing 2nd by a short head off a mark of 89 when ridden by a 7lb claimer.

Rathbone has since been sold and transferred to Michael Herrington but it is interesting he has been targeted back at this race off a mark of 84. He ran well to finish 3rd last time at Doncaster off a mark of 85 and he should run well with four places available.