Thursday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

Dear Ralphy will no doubt prove popular with punters under a 7lb penalty but preference instead goes to SHEWEARSTHEWELLIES (best priced at 3/1) following her recent course and distance success. The Lawney Hill trained six-year-old returned from a wind operation to make a winning reappearance at Fontwell off a mark of 80. She finished 2nd at Plumpton on her next start off a mark of 85 before winning by 3 ½ lengths over this course and distance last time off the same mark.

That victory came in first time cheekpieces so hopefully they have the same effect and if so then Shewearsthewellies should prove hard to beat off only a 5lb higher mark.

Izzy’s Grey is respected on her stable debut for Belinda Clarke but he should struggle to concede weight to ABBEYHILL (best priced at 13/8) in this race. The Neil Mulholland trained six-year-old finished  well beaten on his reappearance over 2m3f at Fontwell but won well at Plumpton by 1 ¼ lengths when upped to 3m1f for the first time. 

Abbeyhill beat Dear Ralphy that day with the pair pulling 13 lengths clear of the third and that rival has since boosted the form by winning at Chepstow off the same mark and is favourite at Lingfield earlier today off a 6lb higher mark. Abbeyhill was running from 4lbs out of the handicap at Plumpton so he is actually 5lbs “well in” at the weights under a 7lb penalty and he is a confident selection over 3 miles once again.

The Evan Williams trained WALKINTHEWOODS (best priced at 11/4) is yet to finish out of the top four in his ten starts so far in the previous two season and he looks to hold strong claims in this race. The six-year-old won by 4 ½ lengths on his final start last season at Ffos Las off a mark of 92 before finishing a neck 2nd at Worcester on his reappearance off a mark of 98. The handicapper raised him 3lbs for that effort up to a mark of 101 where he finished 2nd by a neck once again at Ffos Las with the pair pulling 22 lengths clear of the third.

The handicapper has raised Walkinthewoods 3lbs for that effort a week ago but he instead runs off the same mark meaning that he is 3lbs “well in” at the weights. He shaped like this step up in trip to 2m7f should suit and he is expected to get back to winning ways in this race.

Ip Up is respected from 2lbs “well in” at the weights but I much prefer the chances of BASHFUL (best priced at 10/3) who has improved on the flat and now returns to hurdling for the first time in 319 days. The Iain Jardine trained five-year-old has improved from a mark of 67 on the flat from the time he last ran over hurdles up to mark of 80. 

Bashful therefore should prove well handicapped off a mark of 95 back over hurdles and he should hold strong claims Sean Quinlan on board for the first time. 

Many of the runners in this 0-125 handicap face question marks so it looks a good opportunity for MAGNA SAM (best priced at 4/1) to make it 4/4 at the track. The Alastair Ralph trained nine-year-old won by 41 lengths here in December 2021, 18 lengths in February 2022 before defying odds of 22/1 to win by 4 ¼ lengths here in February 2023 off a mark of 120. He ran well to finish 5th in the Scottish National behind Kitty’s Light on his final run last season off a mark of 128 and he runs off a 2lb lower mark in this race. 

Magna Sam won off a 267 day break on his reappearance last year so this 222 day break shouldn’t be a worry for him and I expect him to prove hard to beat in this race.