Thursday Horse Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

The Sir Michael Stoute stable are in good form currently with two impressive winners at Chester last week and I am hoping that their patience with INFINITE COSMOS (best priced at 13/2) can be rewarded. The four-year-old was only beaten a short head on her only run at two before winning in impressive style by 4 ¼ lengths on her reappearance last season at Newmarket. She finished 3rd in the Musidora Stakes at this meeting last season behind subsequent Oaks winner Soul Sister before a slightly disappointing run at Yarmouth at the end of the season following a break behind the reopposing Sapphire Seas.

Infinite Cosmos has 10lbs to find on ratings with the favourite Free Wind but she looks sure to progress this season and I expect to see a much improved effort with Ryan Moore back on board. 

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With Ancient Wisdom showing his best form last season on a softer surface, a chance is taken on AL MUSMAK (best priced at 7/1) on his reappearance. The Roger Varian trained colt showed good from last season including when finishing ahead of Ancient Wisdom at Ascot when 2nd behind subsequent 2000 Guineas runner-up Rosallion. Further back in fourth that day was Alyanaabi who won a Group 3 before finishing 2nd in the Dewhurst Stakes and 5th in the 2000 Guineas and in fifth was Dancing Gemini who won a listed race at Doncaster before finishing runner-up in the French 2000 Guineas on Sunday.

Following that run, Al Musmak won at Haydock defeating Macduff and Remaadd who finished 2nd and 3rd behind Arabian Crown at Sandown before finishing 2nd behind Ghostwriter in the Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket on his final start last season. Ghostwriter ran well to finish 4th in the 2000 Guineas on his reappearance and the third, a further ½ length behind the selection, was Capulet who won the listed Dee Stakes at Chester last week. 

With those notable form boosts from last season, Al Musmak looks to hold strong claims in this race and he could upset the favourite. 

This race is full of unexposed three-year-olds but none will have a more attractive pedigree than LONDON CITY (best priced at 4/1) who is by Justify out of the brilliant race mare Winter. He looked inexperienced when finishing midfield in two turf maidens last season before returning from a 223 day break to win at Dundalk on his reappearance. 

London City stayed on well over the 1m2½f trip that day shaping like this step up in trip to 1m4f would suit him and he is expected to prove much better than an opening mark of 93.  

The James Owen trained MERMAIDS CAVE (best priced at EVENS) was an impressive 12 length winner here over 2m3f and she should prove hard to beat under a 5lb penalty. The five-year-old struggled early on in her career when trained in Ireland but put in a huge career best when encountering good ground last time here. 

Travelling well under Alex Chadwick over 2m3f here last time, Mermaid Cave won by an eased down 12 lengths at the finish and she shouldn’t be inconvenienced by the slight drop in trip. The handicapper has raised her 9lb for that victory so she runs here 4lbs “well in” at the weights and I expect her to prove hard to beat.