Saturday Horse Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

The Tom George trained CHAMPAGNE MYSTERY (best priced at 4/1) makes his first start in veterans’ company in this race and he should be able to gain a first success since March 2022. The ten-year-old caught the eye when 5th at Cheltenham on his penultimate start when kept wide before finishing 3rd at Kempton last time. Neither effort were poor so the handicapper looks to have been lenient dropping him 3lbs overall down to a mark of 127.

The form of that latest 3rd at Kempton where he was only beaten two lengths by Golden Son has been boosted by the runner-up Heltenham winning twice since and that rival is now rated 12lbs higher. Going back left-handed should suit Champagne Mystery and I expect him to prove hard to beat.

There are a few interesting handicap debutants but none more so than ELFORLEATHER (best priced at 14/1) who is returning from 216 days off the track. The Jack Channon trained three-year-old ran up to market expectations of 125/1, 80/1 and 100/1 when well beaten in three turf starts last season at Sandown, Windsor and Goodwood shaping like this step up in trip on handicap debut would suit him well.

Elforleather ran over 7f and a mile in his three starts but now steps up to 1m4f on his handicap debut having been gelded over the winter. Rossa Ryan takes over on board for the first time which is a positive and he could spring a surprise on his handicap debut. 

This looks a competitive 0-60 handicap but preference goes to SMASHER (best priced at 3/1) who has looked progressive since the application of cheekpieces. The Michael Attwater trained four-year-old won here in January off a mark of 52 in first time cheekpieces before following up off a 2lb higher mark by a length over this course and distance only a fortnight later. He was beaten 3 ¼ lengths when 5th at Kempton on his next start but made it three course and distance victories last time winning off a mark of 57 by a neck. 

The handicapper has only raised Smasher 2lbs for that success which seems lenient and he can hopefully make it 4/4 over this course and distance in cheekpieces.