Thursday Horse Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

CLASSIC MAESTRO (best priced at 5/4) has to concede chasing experience to all six of his rivals but he has been an impressive winner on his previous two starts and can making a winning chasing debut.

The Jennie Candlish trained six-year-old finished 2nd on his first two starts in handicaps but is now 2/2 since dropping down to 2 miles. He won by 3 ½ lengths at Uttoxeter off a mark of 105 in January before following up off a 6lb higher mark at Newcastle last time by the same distance. 

Both of those victories have come under Luke Scott claiming 5lbs and I am expecting Classic Maestro to prove hard to despite a 6lb rise. 

The Stan Moore trained REVERBERATION (best priced at 7/4) has a good record at Chelmsford in his career and he can hopefully make it 2/2 under Ethan Jones. The nine-year-old beat Mitigator by 4 ¼ lengths over this course and distance in December off a mark of 46 before slightly disappointing at Wolverhampton on his next start.

He bounced back over a mile here winning by ¾ length off a mark of 52 before finishing 2nd beaten only ½ lengths in an amateur jockeys’ race here last time back over 1m2f. 

The handicapper has raised Reverberation 1lb up to a mark of 56 which is fair and he is expected to prove hard to beat with Ethan Jones back on board from a good draw in Stall 5.

This looks a competitive 0-75 handicap but preference goes to STAR MIND (best priced at 9/2) who is unbeaten over 7f in her career. The three-year-old won on her stable debut for Jack Jones in a 7f maiden at Wolverhampton in November when fitted with first time cheekpieces by 2 ¾ lengths.

She was beaten in a novice race at Chelmsford over 6f on her next start under a penalty but bounced back to form winning on handicap debut over this course and distance a month ago off an opening mark of 70.
Star Mind stayed on well under Jonny Peate that day to win by a length and she should prove hard to beat off a 4lb higher mark. 

The John & Thady Gosden trained COVER UP (best priced at 5/4) is unbeaten on his two starts on the AW and he should be able to complete a hat-trick of wins. The four-year-old won at Lingfield over 6f in November off a mark of 76 by 1 ¼ lengths before returning from a 101-day break to win over this course and distance 12 days ago.

The winning margin of ½ length doesn’t show how dominant Cover Up was that day and a 5lb rise from the handicapper is fair. He now steps up in class but should prove hard to beat under Rab Havlin.