Friday Horse Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

The Shaun Lycett trained TORCELLO (best priced at 4/1) won this race last year off a mark of 83 and he should hold strong claims off a 5lb higher mark. The nine-year-old goes well on soft ground and also has form figures at Newmarket of 11915126. He was only beaten a neck when 2nd over this course and distance in May behind HMS President on soft ground before slightly disappointing at the July course last time.

Torcello ran well to finish 4th behind Sweet William at Goodwood on heavy ground in August off a mark of 88 and he runs here off the same mark here. I expect him to be ridden positively on this drop in trip to 1m4f and he could prove hard to catch under Joe Fanning.

This looks a competitive 0-75 handicap but preference goes to BICEP (best priced at 8/1) who made it 2/2 on the AW with a victory over 7f here a fortnight ago. The Grant Tuer trained four-year-old won on his debut at Lingfield by a nose when trained by Archie Watson and he hadn’t raced again on the surface until last when victorious by 1 ¼ lengths off a mark of 71.

The handicapper has raised Bicep 5lbs for that victory up to a career high mark of 76 which is fair and on running style this step up to a mile should suit. Sam James retains the ride and he should run well with four places widely available. 

Captain’s Bar is respected under a 5lb penalty in this race but preference instead goes to the consistent ELZAAL (best priced at 9/2). The Paul Midgley trained five-year-old has form figures of 33221131110022 at the track including two second placed efforts on his previous two starts.

Elzaal was only beaten ½ length off a mark of 59 on his penultimate start before finishing 2nd by ¾ length off the same mark a week later. The handicapper has raised him 1lb up to mark of 60 and he should run well with up to four places available.