Thursday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

Both Louis Treize and On Edge (best priced at 11/2) look closely matched on form in this 0-55 handicap but preference goes to the latter who gets a weight swing from their meeting 35 days ago. The Christopher Mason trained five-year-old has a good record over this course and distance with form figures of 1313 including a victory over Louis Treize in July off a mark of 51. The handicapper raised him 5lbs for that success which was fair and he was only beaten ¾ length by Louis Treize last time giving that rival 6lbs.

On Edge now meets Louis Treize on 2lb better terms in this race and he also has the benefit of Gina Mangan’s 3lb claim here which he didn’t have last time but did on his penultimate start. Bookmakers are offering four places on this race and it would be disappointing if he wasn’t involved in the finish back down to 0-55 company.

Hastily (best priced at 4/1) was well thought of early in her career when owned by Qatar Racing but she obviously had issues and transferred to Tom McGuinness before making her debut. She didn’t show a lot in her first three starts but won a Cork handicap on her fifth start off a mark of 47. She outran odds of 28/1 to finish a ½ length 2nd at Naas in June off a mark of 59 before finishing 4th at Ffos Las last time on her first start over 5f off a mark of 61.

Connections fit Hastily with a first time hood in this race which should make the job of Georgie Dobie easier as she raced too keenly in the early stages of the race last time. The handicapper has left her on a mark of 61 and she should run well off that mark. 

The Clipper Handicap is always a competitive race but I feel that Master Richard (best priced at 16/1) is overpriced if first time cheekpieces bring about any sort of improvement in him. The Ann Duffield trained four-year-old won over this course and distance off a mark of 75 last season by 3 ¾ lengths before being awarded the race over this course and distance in August last year off a mark of 83.

Master Richard won at Newcastle over 7f on his reappearance before running a rare bad race here on his penultimate start. He bounced back to form last time with a ½ length 2nd at Newmarket 12 days ago off a mark of 90 and he runs here off only 1lb higher in this race. Oisin Murphy rides for the yard for only the second time in his career in this race and he should run well with six places available.

The Waiting Game (best priced at 6/1) is a well named selection in the final race of the day and she should hold strong claims of adding to her recent course and distance success from nine days ago. The Jack Jones trained four-year-old made all in a classified stakes race over this course and distance last time on her first start over 6f where she relished this drop in trip.

The Waiting Game was rated 46 that day and runs here under a 5lb penalty rather than waiting until her revised mark of 55 comes into play. That means she is 4lbs “well in” at the weights for her recent 3 ¾ length success and I expect her to prove hard to beat if David Probert can get a good early position from Stall 11.