Wednesday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

The unbeaten Mezzo Soprano will no doubt prove popular on her handicap debut but preference instead goes to King Of Ithaca (best priced at 10/3) who won over this course and distance last time. The gelded son of Ulysses has been in good form since joining the James Tate stable from Marco Botti with form figures of 321. His first two starts were over a mile here when beaten 1 ½ lengths and ¾ length off a mark of 64 before winning by a neck over 7f here last time off a mark of 65.

The form of that race is working out well with the 2nd Chalk Mountain winning on his next start and the 3rd Port Erin finished a close 2nd on his next start. The handicapper has raised King Of Ithaca 1lb based on those form boosts but he instead runs here off his previous mark of 68 so he is 1lb “well in” at the weights and should hold strong claims of upsetting the favourite.  

The Charlie Appleby trained Age Of Baroque (best priced at 11/8) sets the standard based on his debut 3rd over this course and distance and he is expected to get off the mark at the second attempt. The well bred son of Lope De Vega faced more experienced rivals when finishing 3rd on his debut over this course and distance 19 days ago showing his inexperience.

Age Of Baroque was slowly away but then took a keen hold before being slightly outpaced and staying on well late on to finish only 2 ½ lengths behind the winner. He is expected to step forward from that effort and should prove hard to beat on his second start.

The John Long trained Magicinthemaking (best priced at 10/3) ran well to finish a head 2nd over 6f here following a break and she should hold strong claims off only 1lb higher. The nine-year-old is a four-time course winner at Kempton with her latest three victories coming over this trip of 7f. She was returning from a 154 day break when a head 2nd over 6f last time under George Rooke but the booking of Hollie Doyle is a huge positive.

Hollie Doyle has ridden Magicinthemaking in five out of her seven career victories so she clearly gets the best out of the mare and the pair have a fantastic draw from Stall 2 to get a prominent position. She drops down from a 0-55 handicap into a 0-52 handicap so it should be an easier race and she is expected to prove hard to beat off only a 1lb higher mark.