Friday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

Ambassador is respected on his first run for Micky Hammond but preference goes to ROCK ON TOMMY (best priced at 13/8) who escapes a penalty for his recent course and distance success. The Olly Murphy trained eight-year-old has shown improved form since the fitting of blinkers and he won by five lengths on heavy ground over this course and distance in July off a mark of 83.

Rock On Tommy followed up that success over this course and distance just over a week ago when he won easily by 3 ½ lengths off a mark of 90 under Lewis Stones in a conditional jockeys’ handicap hurdle. He runs here unpenalised for that success which means he is 6lbs “well in” at the weights as he in theory runs here off a 1lb lower mark here and I expect him to prove hard to beat.

This looks a competitive 0-80 handicap but preference goes to GLOBAL ESTEEM (best priced at 11/1) who has a solid record at Ascot and could show improvement in a first time visor. The six-year-old has form figures of 214353 at Ascot including a win over a mile in 2021 off a mark of 76. He finished 3rd over a mile here two weeks ago off a mark of 78 and he actually runs here off a 1lb lower mark in this race.

Global Esteem finished a close 2nd at Ascot over 6f in May 2021 when fitted with first time cheekpieces so hopefully the fitting of a first time visor will bring out some improvement in this race. Bookmakers are offering up to four places on this race and he looks a solid each way option off a mark of 77.

The consistent FLASH BARDOT (best priced at 4/1) runs here from 4lbs “well in” at the weights and she should prove hard to beat in this race. The Jack Channon trained three-year-old won a novice race at Lingfield in March and has form figures of 3512 in handicaps since. She won at Epsom off a mark of 70 before finishing only a neck behind the progressive Night Sparkle at Newbury a week ago under a 6lb penalty.

Flash Bardot runs here off a mark of 74 which is 2lbs lower than at Newbury and 4lbs lower than her official rating of 78. Tom Marquand takes over on board and she should prove hard to beat at the weights.

The David Evans trained CUBAN BREEZE (best priced at 4/1) won this race last season off a mark of 80 and she should hold strong claims off a 5lb higher mark. She has been running consistently well this season with recent form figures of 223432 including a close 2nd at Newmarket a week ago. She finished 2nd by 1 ¼ lengths behind Star Guest off a mark of 83 under Saffie Osbourne and the handicapper has raised her 2lbs for that effort.

Cuban Breeze runs here 2lbs “well in” at the weights here off the same mark of 83 and she can hopefully confirm the form of last year’s win with Glamorous Breeze with Tom Marquand a notable booking.

The Tim Easterby trained HAPPIER (best priced at 7/2) has been running consistently well and hopefully the fitting of first time cheekpieces means she can get back to winning ways. The three-year-old outran odds of 33/1 to finish 2nd on her second start at Thirsk before winning a Redcar maiden on her next start. She finished 2nd at Carlisle on her handicap debut off a mark of 66 before finishing only a short head behind Trabajo Detecho at Hamilton 8 days ago.

The handicapper has raised Happier 2lbs for that short head defeat up to a mark of 68 but she instead runs here off her previous mark. That means she runs here 2lbs “well in” at the weights and hopefully she can get back to winning ways here under Duran Fentiman.