Wednesday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

This looks a competitive handicap but preference goes to KUWAIT CITY (best priced at 25/1) who was a stylish winner over 5f at the track earlier this season. The John Butler trained three-year-old won on his second career start at Yarmouth before struggling in handicaps until defying odds of 28/1 to win at this course in May. Jim Crowley gave him a lot to do that day over 5f but he stayed on well to win by ½ length off a mark of 79. The handicapper raised him 6lbs for that victory up to a mark of 85 where he finished 3rd by ¾ length in a handicap at Ayr.

Kuwait City has disappointed on his previous two starts at Haydock and Newmarket but has now dropped down to a mark of 85 and he can hopefully bounce back on his return to this venue with up to seven places available.

The Adrian Keatley trained BALLYMOUNT BOY (best priced at 9/4) sets the standard with a rating of 105 and his run behind Vandeek received a huge boost on Sunday. The son of Camacho finished 2nd on his debut at Newcastle before getting off the mark at Hamilton in July. He outran odds of 25/1 to finish 2nd behind Vandeek in the Group 2 Richmond Stakes at Goodwood with the pair pulling 5 lengths clear of the third.

Vandeek went on to win a strong edition of the Prix Morny on Sunday which boosts that form and Ballymount Boy should prove extremely hard to beat in this race off level weights with maiden winners.

This looks a weak 0-75 handicap and I will be really disappointed if ELUSIVE ANGEL (best priced at 3/1) cannot make a winning handicap debut in this race. The Harry Eustace trained three-year-old looks to have been let in lightly off an opening mark of 73 based on his previous three runs. He finished only ¾ length behind the now 82 rated Holy Fire when 2nd on debut at Kempton before finishing 3rd behind the 84 rated Johnny James at Catterick on his second start.

Elusive Angel then had a 50 day break before finishing 2nd by 1 ¼ lengths behind the 90 rated Unequal Love at Ripon last time. Even though he was receiving weight from his rival that day, an opening mark of 73 seems nearly 10lbs lower than expected and I will be really disappointed if he doesn’t get off the mark in this race.

Hopefully John Butler can have a good day on the Knavesmire and DESIGNER (best priced at 5/1) can win this race for a second year in a row. The four-year-old won this race off a mark of 87 last season and despite running here off a 5lb higher mark this year, she really caught the eye last time at Goodwood. She eventually finished 4th beaten 3 ¾ lengths but David Egan was denied a clear run multiple times in the final two furlongs and looked after her late on in the race.

Designer runs here off the same mark in this race and she looks sure to run well with up to five places available.