Steve Ryder is back with three selections for today's racing action.
14:55 Hamilton
The Charlie Johnston trained Union Island (best priced at 5/1) makes his handicap debut in this race against much more exposed rivals and he looks worth taking a chance on. The son of U S Navy Flag has run keenly on his three starts over 6f to date shaping like this drop to 5f should suit him well.
Union Island put in his best performance at this course on his debut in July when 2nd by 1¼ length so we know that he handles the track. Joe Fanning retains the ride and he should run well off an opening mark of 78.
15:50 Leicester
Many of this field are struggling for recent form but that isn’t the case for Buddy’s Beauty (best priced at 9/2) who arrives in the form of her life. The John Gallagher trained four-year-old outran odds of 200/1 to finish 3rd on her reappearance before winning on her handicap debut in June at Nottingham off an opening mark of 50.
She followed up by 4 ½ lengths over this course and distance on her next start off a mark of 55 before finishing a short head 2nd at Nottingham last time off a mark of 65.
The handicapper has raised Buddy’s Beauty 3lbs for that effort which is fair and she should prove hard to beat back over this course and distance under Rhys Clutterbuck who has form figures of 112 when riding her.
16:40
This looks a competitive 0-68 handicap but preference goes to Temper Trap (best priced at 15/2) who is the only course and distance winner in the field. The Tim Easterby trained six-year-old has form figures of 1811211 over this course and distance with his latest C&D win coming in August off a mark of 59.
Temper Trap won easily by 2¾ lengths at Ripon in August off a mark of 64 before finishing 4th at Beverley, Thirsk and Carlisle on his subsequent starts. He has now dropped back down to a mark of 66 so he is only 2lbs higher than his previous win and he should run well back over this course and distance.
