Thursday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

This looks to be between Honeymooner and Finest Leader (best priced at 4/5) with preference going to the latter who is 4lbs “well in” at the weights. The Harry & Roger Charlton trained three-year-old has recent form figures of 1112 with his three victories all coming in cheekpieces on turf. He progressed from a mark of 68 up to a mark of 82 when he finished a short head second at Kempton without cheekpieces.

Interestingly, Finest Leader runs here again without cheekpieces but thankfully he runs here off the same mark of 82 rather than his revised mark of 86. That means he is 4lbs “well in” at the weights and he should prove hard to beat under the in-form Saffie Osbourne back on turf.

The Jonny Portman trained New Heights (best priced at 5/1) is 2/2 over this course and distance in his career and she should hold strong claims off only a 3lb higher mark. The five-year-old won the same apprentice handicap under Tyler Saunders for a second year in a row last time off a mark of 72 when fitted with first time cheekpieces.

Tyler Saunders retains the ride on New Heights in this race but now claims his full 5lb allowance which negates most of her 3lb rise in the weights. If the cheekpieces work for a second time then she looks sure to be involved in the finish with four places widely available.

This looks a competitive 0-60 handicap but Dulcet Spirit (best priced at 8/1) looks overpriced despite coming from Stall 10. The Brett Johnson trained four-year-old has been running consistently well with recent form figures of 33132 including a win at Chepstow off a mark of 57 and a close 3rd on the AW at Lingfield on her penultimate start off a mark of 58.

The handicapper has raised Dulcet Spirit 2lbs for her latest 2nd placed finish at Brighton up to a mark of 60 but she instead runs here off a mark of 58 meaning that she is 2lbs “well in” at the weights. Benoit De La Sayette retains the ride and she should run well with four places on offer.