Thursday Horse Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

The Harry Derham trained Joker De Mai (best priced at 11/8) was an impressive winner on his handicap debut last time at Lingfield and he should hold strong claims under a 7lb penalty. The four-year-old won his final two starts in France easily by 19 lengths and 4 ½ lengths over fences before finishing 4th behind Willmount in a novice hurdle at Newbury on his reappearance. 

Joker De Mai won easily by 11 lengths under David Maxwell last time at Lingfield off a mark of 118 and the handicapper has raised him 10lbs for that effort. He instead runs here under a 7lb penalty so he is 3lbs “well in” at the weights and should prove hard to beat. 

Bitcoin Profit is respected in first time cheekpieces but preference goes to Via Blanca (best priced at 9/2) who has finished runner-up on both of her starts in nurseries. The Amy Murphy trained grey finished well beaten on her first three starts in novice company before outrunning odds of 18/1 to finish 2nd by ½ length at Chelmsford on her handicap debut off a mark of 51. 

Via Blanca then finished 2nd by 1 ¾ lengths off a mark of 53 last time despite being hampered at a crucial stage. She runs here off the same mark and can looks sure to be involved with four places on offer.

This looks a weak 0-65 handicap and preference goes to the recent course and distance winner Thank The Lord (best priced at 11/4). The Simon Hodgson trained four-year-old won over 5f here last year but remains unexposed over this trip of 6f. He finished 4th beaten only 2 ¼ lengths over this course and distance in November before winning in impressive style over this course and distance last time by 3 ¼ lengths. 
That victory came off a mark of 57 and the handicapper has raised him 7lbs which is fair. He is well drawn in Stall 5 and should prove hard to beat under the