Friday Horse Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

The Richard Spencer trained REVICH (best priced at 10/1) has an impressive record at Chester including when winning this contest a year ago off a 3lb lower mark by three lengths. The eight-year-old has form figures of 153114237213 at the track with his victory last year coming off a mark of 92. He ended the turf season with a victory off a mark of 95 at Ayr and following a couple of below par efforts at Doncaster and Newbury (the same races as he was beaten in last season) he has now dropped back down to a mark of 95. 

Jim Crowley won the race on Revich last season from Stall 6 and hopefully he can repeat that performance from Stall 7 this year. 

Andrew Balding has a strong hand in the Chester Cup this year with both Aztec Empire and Grand Providence well fancied but I am willing to take a chance on his supposed third string SPIRIT MIXER (best priced at 33/1) who boasts a course win and is now fitted with first time cheekpieces. The six-year-old was completing a hat-trick of wins when an impressive 2 ½ length winner over 1m5½f in May 2022 off a mark of 90 and he runs here off only a 4lb higher mark.

The well-bred gelding is the offspring of Juddmonte International winners Frankel and Arabian Queen and he has been lightly raced since 2022 with only three runs in that time. Connections now reach for cheekpieces but he could outrun his odds if Callum Hutchinson can get him into a good position from Stall 17. 

The Tony Martin pair of Alphonse Le Grande and Hamsiyann could both prove ahead of their marks but the more solid option appears to be PRINCE ALEX (best priced at 5/1) who runs here from 2lbs “well in” at the weights following his victory last time at Newbury.

As with many of the Amo Racing horses, Dominic Ffrench Davis is the fifth trainer of the seven-year-old but he has shown improved form since joining from Tom Dascombe. He finished placed at both Goodwood and Haydock on his two starts for the stable last season before relishing the return to faster ground when winning by 1 ¼ lengths at Newbury three weeks ago.

The handicapper has raised Prince Alex 5lbs for that victory up to a mark of 89 but he instead runs here under a 3lb penalty meaning he is 2lbs “well in” at the weights and I expect him to run well with up to six places available.  

The Charlie Johnston trained BAILEYS KHELSTAR (best priced at 11/10) was an impressive four length winner at Southwell last time and he should prove hard to beat under a 5lb penalty. The four-year-old had form figures of 3122 in turf handicaps at the end of last season before winning by an eased down four lengths on the AW last time off a mark of 72.

The handicapper has raised Baileys Khelstar 9lbs for that comfortable victory a fortnight ago but he instead runs here under a 5lb penalty meaning that he is 4lbs “well in” at the weights. This switch back to turf shouldn’t inconvenience him and he should prove hard to beat with Archie Young taking off a handy 5lbs in this apprentice handicap.  

MRS TABITHA (best priced at 7/4) landed a gamble at Ludlow on her handicap debut last time and she should prove hard to beat off only a 7lb higher mark. The half-sister to Presenting Percy was an impressive four length winner of a Bangor bumper a year ago before finishing down the field in three novice hurdles over the winter. 

The Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero trained five-year-old responded well to a first-time tongue tie to win on her handicap debut off an opening mark of 79 with Henry Brooke riding her with a lot of confidence throughout the 2m5f contest. A 7lb rise may seem harsh based on a 1 ½ length winning victory but she should be able to follow up in this race. 

The Ben Haslam trained FORTAMOUR (best priced at 4/1) has an impressive record over this course and distance with form figures of 3311145422711 including a victory under Joanna Mason here a month ago. The form of that victory has been boosted since with the runner-up Illusionist, beaten ½ length that day, winning his next start off a 4lb higher mark and is now rated 9lbs higher than when the pair met.

Fortamour now runs here off only a 5lb higher mark despite the handicapper now revising his rating up to a 7lb higher mark following that form boost. He therefore runs here from 2lbs “well in” at the weights and I will disappointed if he isn’t involved in the finish.