Thursday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

Sun Festival is respected for the in-form Joe Parr stable but preference instead goes to CHINTHURST (best priced at 5/2) from 2lbs “well in” at the weights. The Jim Boyle trained three-year-old is 0-9 in his career but has been in good form off this mark on his previous two starts. The gelding finished 3rd at Epsom before finishing a neck 2nd at Brighton 9 days ago.

The handicapper has raised him 2lbs for that effort but he instead runs here again off a mark of 53 meaning he is 2lbs “well in” and hopefully he can get off the mark in this race.

Better is expected from Caldwell on his return to hurdling but he looks sure to struggle to give weight to KILBRAINY (best priced at 13/8) who was an emphatic 8 ½ lengths winner at Kelso 11 days ago. The Sandy Thomson trained seven-year-old was returning from a 119 day break on his reappearance where he eased clear under William Maggs in a conditional jockeys’ race.

Kilbrainy gets to run here unpenalized for that success so he runs here 8lbs “well in” at the weights and he should prove hard to beat if in the same form with Ryan Mania taking back over on board.

The David Evans trained CUBAN BREEZE (best priced at 6/1) got to within a short head of the progressive The Waiting Game over this course and distance a week ago and she should run well once again off the same mark. The winner that day was completing a five-timer and she was only beaten in a photo finish having stayed on well from the rear under Hollie Doyle.

The handicapper has raised Cuban Breeze 2lbs for that effort but she runs here off her previous mark of 77 meaning she is 2lbs “well in” at the weights. If she can race more prominently this time then she should hold strong claims with up to four places available.

The James Ferguson trained LOUAIZEH (best priced at 10/1) ran an eyecatching race on her handicap debut and should be suited by this step up in trip to 1m6f for the first time. The three-year-old showed very little on her first three career starts but outran odds of 22/1 to finish 3rd on her handicap debut over 1m1½f.

Louaizeh was sent off only 3/1 to win last time over 1m4f but she got too far back in the field and was eased late on into 7th. She has been dropped 1lb for that run but more crucially is now fitted with first time cheekpieces on her first start over 1m6f. Luke Morris takes over on board and she should put in a better performance with four places on offer.