Monday Horse Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

Course and distance winner We Still Believe is respected following his 2nd placed effort last time but preference instead goes to BUSBY (best priced at 4/1) who has run well on his previous two starts over this course and distance. The Philip Kirby trained nine-year-old outran odds of 40/1 to finish 3rd here in February before finishing 2nd beaten only ¾ length here in March.

That close 2nd came off a mark of 61 and Busby runs here off only a 2lb higher mark. He once won off a mark of 78 in his career so he is well handicapped and should run well once again over this course and distance.

The Andrew Balding stable have started the season in good form and CYNOSURE (best priced at 11/10) should be able to get off the mark at the fourth attempt. The three-year-old improved with each start last season including when only beaten ¾ length at Kempton when 3rd and when 2nd by 1 ¼ lengths over this course and distance. 

Cynosure has been gelded since his last run 155 days ago and he should prove hard to beat with Kevin Stott retaining the ride. 

ELFORLEATHER (best priced at 13/8) was well backed from 14/1 into 5/2 favourite when a selection on his handicap debut last time but bumped into two horses well ahead of their marks. The Jack Channon trained gelding showed very little over 7f and a mile on his three starts last season before running over 1m4f on his handicap debut off an opening mark of 57.

Elforleather finished 3rd behind Road To Wembley who followed up by seven lengths off a 6lb higher mark since and Cock And Bull who won by ¾ lengths on his next start who is now rated 6lbs higher. Elforleather has been dropped 1lb to a mark of 56 and it will be disappointing if he was beaten.