Friday Horse Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

The Tim Vaughan trained WEAVER’S ANSWER (best priced at 5/2) was an impressive winner last time in first time cheekpieces and he should prove hard to beat under a 7lb penalty. The six-year-old grey won at Uttoxeter on his reappearance over 2 miles off a mark of 78 under Alan Johns before finishing midfield at Exeter under a 7lb claimer. He ran much better to finish 3rd at Lingfield on his next start with Johns back on board before winning by 17 lengths last time at Plumpton in first time cheekpieces over 3m1f.

The handicapper has raised Weaver’s Answer 12lbs for that easy success but he instead runs here under a 7lb penalty meaning that he is 5lbs “well in” at the weights and he should prove hard to beat back down in trip to 2m4½f.

The Nicky Alexander trained ARTIC ROW (best priced at 10/3) has won all three of his starts at Ayr in handicaps and he should be able to make it 3/3 over this course and distance over fences. The seven-year-old won a 2 mile handicap hurdle here last season on his handicap debut before needing his reappearance at Musselburgh in November on his first start over fences. He then beat the reopposing Ardera Cross by nine lengths on his next start over this course and distance off a mark of 91 before falling at Kelso on his next start.

Artic Row won by ¾ length last time over this course and distance off a mark of 100 with the pair pulling 19 lengths clear of third. The handicapper has raised him 7lbs and he should prove hard to beat once again over this course and distance.

My Granny Lily comes here off the back of a victory last time and both Killigarth and Loverdose make their handicap debuts in this race but they should struggle against the hat-trick seeking ACTIVIST (best priced at EVENS). The David Pipe trained five-year-old won by five lengths at Plumpton on his penultimate start off a mark of 87 before following up under a 7lb penalty at Taunton only three days later.

Activist won in impressive style by 5 ½ lengths that day over 2m3f despite racing keenly over the longer trip shaping like this step down in trip would suit. The handicapper has raised him a further 11lbs so he is 4lbs “well in” under a further 7lb penalty and should prove hard to beat.