Saturday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

The overnight rain will boost the chances of POSTILEO (NAP) (best priced at 12/1) who bids to build on an encouraging run behind Vauban at Royal Ascot. The Roger Varian trained six-year-old beat Not So Sleepy in a competitive Doncaster handicap off a mark of 94 in October 2021 before returning from a 562 day break to win at Hamilton by 1 ¼ lengths. He was weak in the market that day shaping like he needed the run but still showed a good attitude to win by 1 ¼ length.

The handicapper raised Postileo 3lbs for that victory up to a mark of 98 where he finished 6th behind Vauban in the Copper Horse Handicap but only 5 ¼ lengths behind the runner-up. He looked the biggest danger to Vauban that day but weakened late on and he should hold strong claims off top weight with up to five places available.

COLD CASE (best priced at 10/1) has only put in one disappointing performance in his career and that was on good to firm ground at Haydock last time so this recent rain should suit him well. The Karl Burke trained three-year-old won Two Year Old Trophy at Redcar by 2 ¼ lengths last season before winning the Group 3 Commonwealth Cup Trial on his reappearance at Ascot on good ground.

Cold Case was sent off only 7/2 to win the Sandy Lane Stakes last time but could only finish 5th on fast ground before missing the Commonwealth Cup. With excuses for his latest effort he looks a big price in this Group 3 and he should run well with up to five places available.

The Milton Harris trained NADIM (best priced at 9/4) was an easy winner in first time cheekpieces a week ago at Stratford and he should prove hard to beat off the same mark. The four-year-old has been running consistently well in handicaps this year with form figures of 221 and the first time cheekpieces helped him travel a lot easier throughout the race last time.

Bradley Harris rode him well to win by two lengths at the finish off a mark of 89 and he runs here off the same mark avoiding a penalty. He steps up in class to a Class 4 handicap here but he looks progressive and should prove hard to beat.