Friday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

This looks a competitive Veterans’ Handicap Chase but preference goes to GOOD BOY BOBBY (best priced at 10/3) for the in-form Nigel Twiston-Davies yard. The ten-year-old won on his first start of the season in 2017, 2018, 2020 and 2021 and also finished a head 2nd to Brewin’upastorm on his reappearance in 2019 so we know that he runs well fresh.

Good Boy Bobby dropped from a mark of 148 to a mark of 132 this season and he is incredibly well handicapped off that mark. His last victory came in the Rowland Meyrick Chase off a mark of 146 and he looks worth backing in this race with his yard currently operating at 37% strike rate in the previous two weeks.

The David O’Meara trained AUTUMN FESTIVAL (best priced at 9/1) has shown improved from on his previous two starts since the application of cheekpieces and run well in this race. The four-year-old won at Beverley on his penultimate start off a mark of 82 by 1 ½ lengths before finishing a short head 2nd at Ayr nine days ago under a 5lb penalty.

The handicapper has awarded Autumn Festival a revised mark of 90 following that run but he runs here instead off a mark of 85 meaning that he is 5lbs “well in” at the weights. He steps up in class to a 0-105 handicap here but he is still well handicapped and should run well with up to five places available.

Last time out winner Great Colaci is respected but preference instead goes to TWOFROTHEGUTTER (best priced at 5/1) who outran odds of 22/1 to finish 3rd on his stable debut over this course and distance last time. The three-year-old gelding had previously shown very little when trained by Ian Williams before finishing 3rd by 3 ½ lengths last time off a mark of 56.

Twoforthegutter runs here off the same mark of 56 in this race and if the blinkers work for a second time then he should hold strong claims over the same course and distance with four places on offer.

The David O’Meara trained KALGANOV (best priced at 5/1) has been in good form the last month and he bids to complete a hat-trick of wins from 4lbs “well in” at the weights. The four-year-old has recent form figures of 3211 with the victory coming on his penultimate start at Redcar off a mark of 66. He won impressively at Ayr last week off a mark of 72 beating the solid yardstick Jkr Cobbler by 2¼ lengths on soft ground.

 The handicapper has raised Kalganov 5lbs for that victory up to a mark of 77 but he instead runs here off a mark of 73 meaning that he is 4lbs “well in” at the weights. Although he steps up in class to a 0-80 handicap here, he looks worth keeping onside until he is beaten.

Both Garfield Shadow and MARKAKOL (best priced at 11/10) have penalties to contend with in this novice race but preference goes to latter who won over this course and distance in July. The Roger Varian trained colt has contested two listed races and a Group 3 contest since where he has finished midfield but this return to a novice race represents a huge drop in class.

This should prove a confidence booster for Markakol and if he runs up to his rating of 90 then he should prove extremely hard to beat.

Assembly Call is open to improvement on his handicap debut but preference instead goes to TROPICAL AIR (best priced at 11/4) who runs here from 3lbs “well in” at the weights. The Charlie Johnston trained gelding has form figures of 31114 in handicaps including victories at Lingfield, Wolverhampton and over this course and distance.

Tropical Air finished 4th at Lingfield when racing keenly over 7f on his latest start under a 12lb penalty (so in theory off a mark of 70) but was only beaten 1 ¼ lengths at the finish. The handicapper has given him a revised rating of 72 but he instead runs here off a mark of 69 (including a 6lb penalty) instead. This means he runs here 3lbs “well in” at the weights and he should prove hard to beat back down to 6f.

This looks a weak 0-58 handicap and I am willing to take a chance on the David Thompson trained TOP GUN TINA (best priced at 25/1) on her handicap debut. The three-year-old has disappointed on both of her starts on turf but ran a much better race over this course and distance on her second start when she outran odds of 200/1 to finish 3rd.

Top Gun Tina finished a head in front of the 66 rated Charencey that day and that rival finished a short head 2nd off that mark on Tuesday so is likely to go up in the ratings again. The handicapper has given Top Gun Tina an opening mark of 55 which seems lenient and she should hold strong claims back on the AW with four places available.