Friday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

This looks a competitive 0-88 handicap but preference goes to Persuasion (best priced at 4/1) who should hold strong claims under a 5lb penalty. The David & Nicola Barron trained six-year-old has been running consistently well this year with form figures of 3334351 including a recent success at Thirsk over 7f.

The handicapper has raised Persuasion 6lbs for that 2 ½ length success but he instead runs here under a 5lb penalty meaning that he is 1lb “well in” at the weights. He won over this course and distance in 2021 off a mark of 93 so he looks well handicapped and should prove hard to beat.

Saeed Bin Suroor won this race last season with Dubai Mirage and I am hoping that Major Partnership (best priced at 3/1) can win it again this year for the trainer. The eight-year-old won on his reappearance at Nottingham off a mark of 98 before finishing a close 6th in the Coral Challenge at Sandown on his next start.

Major Partnership was only beaten ¾ length over this course and distance last time off a mark of 101 and he should hold strong claims off only 1lb higher in this race with Oisin Murphy back on board.

The likes of Irrelevant, Mbappe and Aspire To Glory are all expected to take a step forward in this race and but they may still struggle to beat Due Consideration (best priced at 6/4) who runs here off the same mark as when a short head 2nd at Musselburgh last week. The Adrian Nicholls trained gelding had previously disappointed on his first three starts but showed improved form when 2nd at Musselburgh last time.

The handicapper has raised Due Consideration 3lbs up to a mark of 58 but he instead runs here off his previous mark of 55 which means he is 3lbs “well in” at the weights. He should be suited by this drop back to 7f and should prove hard to beat.

The William Haggas trained Medieval Gold (best priced at 7/4) was unlucky not to make a winning handicap debut last time at Newbury and he should hold get off the mark in this race off the same mark. The son of Camelot had form figures of 566 in novice/maiden races before showing improved form when 2nd on his handicap debut.

That was the first run since Medieval Gold had been gelded and he also wore first time cheekpieces that day. Tom Marquand settled him in rear that day and he just failed to reach Graham at the finish. The handicapper has raised him 1lb but he runs here again off a mark of 67 and he should prove hard to beat.