Friday Racing Tips From Steve Ryder

Presenting Nelly has a double penalty to contend with in this race so preference instead goes to Lunar Discovery (best priced at 10/3) who was a smart bumper horse last season. The Jimmy Moffatt trained six-year-old won on her debut here by 5 ½ lengths before following up on heavy ground under a penalty at Wetherby on her next start. She finished 2nd (was subsequently disqualified for a whip offence) at Ayr on her next start and the form of that run has been boosted since.

The winner Hierachy won at Kelso on her next start and the third She’s A Fine Wine won by 6 ½ lengths at Limerick on her hurdling debut. Lunar Discovery finished well beaten in the Grade 2 Mares’ Bumper at the Aintree Festival but is back down to calmer waters in this race and should prove hard to beat on her hurdling debut. 

The Jim Goldie trained Graces Quest (best priced at 10/1) was demoted to 2nd having won over this course and distance last time and she should hold strong claims off only a 2lb higher mark. The five-year-old mare finished a 1 ¼ length 2nd at Musselburgh on her penultimate start off a mark of 60 before finishing a neck ahead of Ghostly over this course and distance last time.

She hung badly left-handed in the closing stages and hampered her rival leading to the places being reversed but that was the first time she had shown any wayward tendencies. Paul Mulrennan takes over on board from Alice Keighley which should ensure Graces Quest stays on a straighter path and I expect her to run well with up to four places available. 

Punters seem to prefer the chances of Show Me Show Me in the same ownership but I am siding with the recent course and distance Paddys Day (best priced at 4/1) under a 6lb penalty. The Nigel Tinkler trained three-year-old won on the AW at Lingfield in March off a mark of 75 when trained by Charlie Hills and he has since placed at both Redcar and Beverley for new connections.

Paddy’s Day won by a length over this course and distance a week ago off a mark of 70 and the handicapper has raised him 6lbs for that victory up to a mark of 76. He instead gets to run here off a mark of 74 so he is 2lbs “well in” at the weights and should run well again if in the same form with Alex Jary retaining the ride.