Thursday Horse Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

BROOKIE (best priced at 11/4) has the benefit of race fitness over both Brentford Hope and Grivetana and he should hold strong claims of making it 2/2 for Anthony Honeyball. The six-year-old only won a maiden hurdle in 14 starts for Tony Martin but he won on his stable debut at Fontwell in impressive style by 8 ½ lengths.

That victory came off a mark of 120 and the handicapper has raised Brookie 6lbs for that comfortable win. Ben Godfrey takes off a handy 3lbs which negates half of the rise and I expect him to prove hard to beat.

This looks a weak 0-100 handicap chase and preference goes to TOM CREEN (best priced at 7/4) who won at this course 18 days ago. The Sam England trained eight-year-old has a good record at Sedgefield with form figures of 1141 at the track for his current trainer with his only defeat coming on good to soft ground. His other three victories all came on soft ground which he will encounter here and he should prove hard to beat.

Pertemps Qualifiers are always a difficult puzzle to solve but it is impossible to look beyond EQUINUS (best priced at 15/8) who runs here from 9lbs “well in” at the weights. The Nigel Twiston-Davies trained five-year-old won on his handicap debut in January off a mark of 115 before finishing 3rd at this track off a mark of 119.

Equinus won by five lengths at Aintree on his reappearance which was his first start over this 3 mile trip. He relished that test and is unexposed over the trip and he should prove hard to beat with James Turner retaining the ride.

Badosa has been well backed overnight on her handicap debut but she should struggle to beat ZACHARY (best priced at 2/1) who runs here under a 6lb penalty. The Charlie Johnston trained gelding won over 5f here in October off a mark of 48 before finishing 4th beaten only 1 ½ lengths under a 6lb penalty. He won easily by 4 ¼ lengths last time back over this course and distance in impressive style off a mark of 55.

The handicapper has raised Zachary 11lbs fort that victory up to a mark of 66 but he instead runs here under a 6lb penalty so he is 5lbs “well in” at the weights. Marco Ghiani should be able to get a good position despite coming out of Stall 9 with less experienced rivals on his inner and I expect him to make it 3/3 at the course.