Wednesday Horse Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

Born Ruler is respected in first time cheekpieces but preference instead goes to SEA THE THUNDER (best priced at 11/4) who went close in a handicap last time. The Ralph Beckett trained three-year-old placed in two of his qualifying runs last season before finishing 3rd on his handicap debut at Newmarket on his reappearance over 1m2f. 

Sea The Thunder put in a career best performance last time at Leicester when only beaten ¾ length in 2nd behind Spaceport where they had Reaching High 17 lengths behind in 3rd who finished a close 2nd on Monday off the same mark. He runs here off only a 2lb higher mark and should relish this good to firm ground being by Kingman. 

This looks a competitive 0-85 handicap but preference goes to last year’s winner MOSTAWAA (best priced at 5/1). The Heather Main trained eight-year-old won this race last season off a mark of 80 following a victory at York on his previous start and he made an encouraging reappearance finishing a close 3rd in the same race this year 11 days ago. 

Mostawaa runs in this race off the same mark as at York last time which is 5lbs lower than when winning this race last season so he is well handicapped. Connections have booked Brandon Wilkie to take off a further 5lbs and he should run well with up to six places available. 

Phoenix Passion bids for a four-timer but his other three wins have been on turf so preference instead goes to WHITCOMBE ROCKSTAR (best priced at 6/1) who has won his previous two starts over this course and distance. The Keiran Burke trained five-year-old ended last season being tried over a trip of 1m6f but defied odds of 25/1 to win on his reappearance over a mile here by 2 ½ lengths off a mark of 67. The handicapper raised him 7lb for that victory but he won a competitive Class 4 0-82 handicap that day by ¾ length.
The handicapper has raised Whitcombe Rockstar 4lbs for that triumph but he now drops into a 0-80 handicap and if Josephine Gordon can get a good position from Stall 12 then he looks sure to run well with four places widely available. 
 

Piper’s Fort beat CARMARTHEN (best priced at 3/1) last time at Yarmouth but she gets a 6lb swing in the weights here and is a lot less exposed. The Jack Channon trained filly showed very little on her three runs last season in maiden/novice races but as a result was given a lowly opening mark of 56. She was well supported on her handicap debut into 6/1 and looked the most likely winner 1f out before wandering under pressure late on and fading into 3rd. 
The first time cheekpieces and the return to faster ground over this trip should Carmarthen well and she is expected to get off the mark at the fifth attempt.