Saturday Horse Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

Only eight pounds covers the nine strong field on ratings but the least exposed in the line-up is the unbeaten QUDDWAH (best priced at 6/4) who can hopefully reward the patience of his connections. The Simon & Ed Crisford trained four-year-old won two novice races last season at Salisbury and Newmarket before winning the listed Queen Anne Trial Stakes at Ascot over the straight mile. 

Quddwah beat Docklands by a head that day with Maljoom a further two lengths back in third and the pair of them boosted the form by filling the same places at Royal Ascot in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes behind Charyn. Racing around a bend is a slight question mark for him but he has been given a 73 day break since his reappearance and he can hopefully retain his unbeaten record. 

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The Ralph Beckett trained STARLUST (best priced at 2/1) is clear on weight adjusted ratings in this race and has put in the best effort of his career over this course and distance. The three-year-old ran well here in a nursery on his only other start at the track over 6f but his best two runs in his career have come over this minimum trip of 5f. He finished only 1 ¼ lengths behind Big Evs when 3rd at the Breeders’ Cup before finishing placed at Meydan over the winter. 

Starlust was an impressive 2 ¼ length winner over this course and distance in a handicap in May off a mark of 105 before finishing down the field in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup when upped in trip to 6f and fitted with blinkers. With headgear removed and now dropped back down to 5f, he is expected to get back to winning ways in this listed race. 

This looks a competitive 0-80 handicap but preference goes to bottom weight KODI LION (best priced at 5/1) who caught the eye on his handicap debut last time at Haydock. The Charlie Fellowes trained three-year-old won a Catterick maiden easily in April before finishing 2nd at Haydock on his handicap debut off an opening mark of 75. The form of that race has been boosted by the third, a further ½ length behind Kodi Lion, winning on his next start and has since placed off a 6lb higher mark. 

Kodi Lion runs here off only 1lb higher so he should remain well handicapped given that he was hampered last time and he is expected to run well. 

CROESO CYMRAEG (best priced at 11/2) has won this race for the past two seasons off higher marks and he should hold strong claims again this year. The James Evans trained ten-year-old won this race off a mark of 81 in 2022 before winning off a mark of 79 by two lengths last year. He went on to finish a close 2nd off a mark of 81 in October before slightly disappointing on his three starts so far this year. 

Off a mark of 75, Croeso Cymraeg is clearly well handicapped and connections will have no doubt targeted this race for the whole season so far. He is well drawn in Stall 3 and should run well with Christian Howarth taking over on board.