Thursday Horse Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

The Neil Mulholland trained Masterdream (best priced at 7/4) won easily in a conditional/amateur riders’ race at Hereford 10 days ago and he avoids a penalty in this race. The six-year-old had been running well on the flat this year including a victory at Ffos Las in July before appreciating the switch back to hurdling last time. 

Masterdream won easily by 5 ½ lengths that day over 3m1f off a mark of 97 and the handicapper has raised him 6lbs for that victory. He instead runs here again off a mark of 97 so he is 6lbs “well in” at the weights and he should prove hard to beat when Dylan Whelan also taking off a handy 7lbs. 

This looks a weak 0-55 handicap and therefore preference goes to the in-form Intoxicata (best priced at 6/4) under a 6lbs penalty. The Ed Dunlop trained three-year-old has form figures of 24112 since the application of a visor including victories at Wolverhampton off a mark of 48 and Lingfield off a mark of 51. 

Intoxicata finished only a length behind Struck Gold at Wolverhampton last time under a 6lb penalty (in theory off a mark of 57) when headed in the final furlong of the 1m½f contest. This drop to 7f will suit her well and she should prove hard to beat from 2lbs “well in” at the weights.  

This is a competitive 0-58 handicap but it looks worth taking a chance on Darlo Pride (best priced at 4/1) in a first time visor. The Tony Carson trained three-year-old has been running consistently well on his recent starts with form figures of 2212. Those include a 2nd placed finish over this course and distance behind Boom The Groom in August before winning over 6f here by a neck off a mark of 48 here in September.

Darlo Pride was only beaten ¾ length when over 6f at Lingfield 9 days ago off a mark of 51 and he will be suited by the drop back down in trip to 5f in this race. Stall 7 is wider than ideal but hopefully a first time visor will mean he wishes to race prominently and he can get a good early position from 1lb “well in” at the weights.