Following a 11/2 place yesterday, Steve Ryder is back with two tips for today's action.
15:40 Ffos Las
MY MATE TED (best priced at 9/1) was extremely well backed when a beaten favourite at Newmarket last time and hopefully the switch back to cheekpieces and the return to soft ground means he can bounce back in this 0-65 handicap. The Roger Teal trained four-year-old had uninspiring form figures of 88678 so far this season before being sent off 10/3 favourite for a competitive handicap at the July Festival. Connections fitted the gelding with a first time visor that day but it had the opposite effect and he trailed in last of nine on that occasion.
As a result, the handicapper has dropped My Mate Ted 3lbs down to a mark of 64 meaning that he drops into this Class 6 0-65 handicap for the first time. He won at Kempton last year off a mark of 75 as well as finishing a close 2nd on soft ground off a mark of 72 so he is clearly well handicapped off a mark of 64 if this return to softer ground and drop in class sparks him back to form.
16:50 Ffos Las
This step up in trip to 1m2f is a concern for the keen going Hitched and at the prices I would much prefer to back NIGHT MOON (best priced at 11/4). The David Marnane trained three-year-old showed very little in three maidens in Ireland when sent off big prices but outran odds of 28/1 to finish 4th beaten only 1 ¾ length at Killarney last time on yielding ground.
That run came off a mark of 56 and the handicapper has only raised Night Moon 1lb for that effort which seems lenient. He is also declared tomorrow at Sligo with the prospect of running under a penalty so an improved performance is obviously expected from connections and hopefully his proven stamina over further means he can upset the favourite.
