After two winners yesterday, Steve Ryder is back with three tips from Thursday's horse racing action.
14:20 Lingfield
The James Fanshawe trained WANNABLE BRAVE (best priced at 3/1) has won his previous two starts and should hold strong claims of completing a hat-trick from 3lbs “well in” at the weights. The five-year-old won by 2 ¼ lengths at Wolverhampton off a mark of 56 in April before following up at Chelmsford a week ago off a mark of 60 by a length.
That victory was in an apprentice handicap so Wannabe Brave runs here off the same mark meaning that he is 3lbs “well in” at the weights. Oisin Murphy, who rode him to victory at Wolverhampton, is back on board and he should prove hard to beat in his hat-trick bid.
16:50 Ripon
This looks a competitive 0-70 handicap but preference goes to LA LA LUCRATIVE (best priced at 11/4) who stepped forward from his reappearance run to finish a neck 2nd at Catterick a week ago. The Gemma Tutty trained colt ran with credit in three maiden/novice races last season including when 3rd at both Hamilton and Catterick before appearing to need his reappearance run at Beverley.
The handicapper has raised La La Lucrative 3lbs for that neck defeat up to a mark of 64 which seems fair as the pair pulled four lengths clear of third that day. He instead runs here once again off a mark of 61 meaning he is 3lbs “well in” at the weights and he is expected to prove hard to beat.
20:55 Carlisle
With Federated an early NR, that leaves this a good opportunity for VAMPIRE SLAYER (best priced at 5/2) to get off the mark at the fourteenth attempt. The Darragh Bourke trained four-year-old was once rated 73 when trained by Joseph O’Brien but dropped down to a mark of 58 when 2nd at Catterick a month ago.
The step up in trip to 1m4f for the first time suited Vampire Slayer who was only beaten 1 ¾ lengths at the finish despite not getting the clearest of runs 2f out. The winner Corsican Caper has on twice since and is now rated 16lbs higher and the third Stellarmasterpiece won her next start and is now rated 2lbs higher so he should prove well handicapped off only a 1lb higher mark and should hold strong claims.
