Thursday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

This looks a competitive 0-60 handicap but preference goes to ZAPHEA (best priced at 9/2) who runs here from 3lbs “well in” at the weights. The Roger Fell & Sean Murray trained filly outran odds of 33/1 to finish 3rd at Musselburgh on her penultimate start off a mark of 55 before finishing a one length 2nd at Bath a week ago off the same mark.

Zaphea gets to run in this nursery handicap off a mark of 52 which means she is 3lbs “well in” at the weights and I expect her to prove hard to beat if running up to the form of her previous two runs.

The Richard Fahey trained BRANDAISY (best priced at 9/4) outrun odds of 33/1 to finish 2nd on her handicap debut and she should prove hard to beat if replicating that form on faster ground. The daughter of Twilight Son finished well beaten in three novice/maiden races over 6f and 5f before showing a much improved performance last time when upped in trip to 7f on her handicap debut on heavy ground at Haydock.

That run came off a mark of 62 11 days and the handicapper has raised her 2lbs for that effort. She instead runs here off a mark of 60 which means she is 4lbs “well in” at the weights and I expect her to prove hard to beat.

Many of the runners in this 0-65 handicap are struggling for recent form but that isn’t the case for TEMPER TRAP (best priced at 9/4) who bids to complete a four-timer. The Tim Easterby trained six-year-old won by three lengths at Doncaster in July off a mark of 52 before following up at Hamilton on his penultimate start off a mark of 59. He won easily by 2 ¾ lengths last time at Ripon off a mark of 64 and runs here off only a 1lb higher mark despite the handicapper raising him a further 4lbs up to an official mark of 69.

The main concern for Temper Trap is that his previous three victories have come on soft ground and he returns back to faster ground here but it would still be disappointing if he didn’t go one better than in this race last year.

Saffie Osbourne has been the star of the Racing League so far and I am hoping she can ride ZOUKSTER (best priced at 4/1) to victory in this race. The Ed Walker trained three-year-old has been running consistently well in handicaps with form figures of 21121 including a victory at Newbury last month by a head off a mark of 69.

The handicapper has raised Zoukster 2lbs for that run up to a mark of 71 which is fair and he should be involved in the finish once again in this race with up to four places available.

Novak is respected in his bid for a four-timer but preference instead goes to JUDGEMENT CALL (best priced at 5/2) who runs here from 3lbs “well in” at the weights under a 5lb penalty. The Linda Perratt trained five-year-old is a two-time course and distance winner in the past including off a mark of 72 in May and he comes into this race following an impressive 5 ½ length success at Musselburgh 6 days ago off a mark of 74.

The handicapper has raised Judgement Call 8lbs for that easy victory up to a career high mark of 74 but he instead runs here under a 5lb penalty meaning that he is 3lbs “well in” at the weights. Connor Beasley, who finished 3rd on him on his penultimate start, takes over on board and he should prove hard to beat.