Thursday Horse Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

All of his rivals are struggling for recent form so NEW YORK BAY (best priced at 4/5) looks sure to hold strong claims of completing a hat-trick of wins. The Gay Kelleway trained four-year-old got off the mark on his penultimate start over 1m6f at Wolverhampton when victorious by 5 ½ lengths off a mark of 45.

New York Bay defied a 5lb penalty to win by a short head over this course and distance last time but that winning distance doesn’t tell the whole story. The gelding raced keenly throughout the race before hanging right against the nearside rail conceding ground to the runner-up. He runs here off a 3lb higher mark but under a more experienced Finley Marsh, he should prove hard to beat.

Top weight STELLA HOGAN (best priced at 11/4) has shown improvement on her previous three starts and should hold go one better than his recent course 2nd. The John Shea trained four-year-old defied odds of 28/1 to win at Kempton in October off a mark of 52 before finishing 2nd by ½ length over 7f here in December off a mark of 56.

Stella Hogan finished 3rd by 1 ¾ lengths at Kempton over 7f a fortnight ago off a mark of 57 behind No News who finished a short head 2nd yesterday off a 2lb higher mark. Stella Hogan should hold strong claims off the same mark here if coping with the step back up in trip to a mile.

The Iain Jardine trained KATS BOB (best priced at 2/1) races here from 3lbs “well in” at the weights and he should hold strong claims of adding to his recent course and distance success. The six-year-old was only beaten ½ length when 5th over this course and distance in December before disappointing at Newcastle on his next start.

Kats Bob bounced back to form to win by ½ length over this course and distance last time off a mark of 67 in an apprentice handicap under Archie Young. The handicapper has raised him 3lbs up to a mark of 70 but he escapes a penalty in this race and should prove hard to beat from 3lbs “well in” at the weights.