Thursday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

This looks a competitive 0-105 handicap but preference goes to the top-weight BRUNCH (best priced at 8/1) who is 2/2 on the AW in his career. The Michael Dods trained six-year-old won two novice races at Newcastle early on in his career and has since won a couple of York handicaps before winning a listed race at Pontefract in July 2021. 

Brunch finished 2nd in a listed race on his reappearance at Doncaster in April before finishing down the field in the Spring Cup at Newbury on his next start. He now drops down in class into this 0-105 handicap and he should run well with up to four places on offer back on the AW.

Urban Sprawl is respected following his 3rd placed finish at Royal Ascot a week ago but preference instead goes to MITROSONFIRE (best priced at 7/1), The William Muir & Chris Grassick trained five-year-old has won on his previous two runs at Newmarket with victories off a mark of 85 in August 2021 and in August 2022. 

Mitrosonfire has a poor record fresh so he was expected to need his recent reappearance run at Goodwood and he is now competitively handicapped off a mark of 87. This return to Newmarket will suit him and he should hit the frame under Lewis Edmunds. 

This looks a competitive 0-75 handicap but preference goes to the only course winner in the field DEREHAM (best priced at 17/2). The John Berry trained seven-year-old won this race last season off a mark of 58 under Harry Davies and that jockey rides him for the first time since in this race this season. 

Following a few below par efforts Dereham has dropped down to a mark of 57 and he bounced back to form last time when 3rd beaten only ½ length at Chelmsford earlier this month. He is 1lb lower than his success in this race last season and he looks worth taking a chance on again at the prices.