Thursday Horse Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

Lady Gwen (best priced at 15/8) steps up in grade from a Class 5 0-100 handicap to a Class 4 0-110 handicap but she should hold strong claims of completing a hat-trick of recent wins under Kai Lenihan. The Kim Bailey trained five-year-old won at Taunton on her penultimate start by 1 ¾ lengths off a mark of 97 before following up that victory over this course and distance last time when unpenalised.

Lady Gwen is now rated 103 so she is technically 6lbs higher than her previous victory but the pair did pull nine lengths clear of third last time. She faces softer ground here but should prove hard to beat with recent winner Moonlight Glory looking the biggest danger. 

All five runners have a good chance in this race but preference goes to Roger Rarebit (best priced at 5/4) who races from 2lbs “well in” at the weights under a 7lb penalty. The Tom Lacey trained six-year-old unseated on his final start last season over hurdles but made a winning reappearance on his chasing debut at Uttoxeter over 2m4f on heavy ground. 

Roger Rarebit won easily by six lengths that day off a mark of 101 and the handicapper has raised him 9lbs for that victory. He instead runs here under a 7lb penalty meaning that he is 2lbs “well in” at the weights. He is proven on testing ground and should prove hard to beat.

This looks a competitive 0-65 handicap but preference goes to Kentucky Kingdom (best priced at 7/2) who arrives chasing of a hat-trick of recent wins. The James Evans trained seven-year-old has won three of his previous four starts with two victories at Lingfield and at Chelmsford last time. He stayed on strongly at the finish under Joe Leavy to win by ¾ length last time over this course and distance and the handicapper has only raised him 2lbs.Kentucky Kingdom is well drawn in Stall 5 and he looks sure to be involved in the finish.