Friday Horse Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

This looks a competitive 0-80 handicap but preference goes to BALTIC (best priced at 15/8) who is unbeaten in his four starts in handicaps. The Harry & Roger Charlton trained colt finished well beaten on his first three career starts before winning by a neck on his handicap debut when fitted with first time cheekpieces. 

The progressive four-year-old has improved with each start this season with victories at Doncaster, Yarmouth and Newcastle with his most impressive success coming last time when a 2 ½ length winner off a mark of 70. An 8lb rise will make this more difficult but Ascot should suit him and he is expected to extend his winning sequence with William Buick on board for the first time. 

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It took the connections of MOKAATIL (best priced at 11/8) 89 starts for him to run at Chepstow but that was an impressive three length success and he can hopefully follow up off the same mark. The Ian Williams trained nine-year-old was once rated as high as 102 but had dropped down to a mark of 55 when victorious a week ago over this course and distance. 

Mokaatil eased clear by three lengths under Millie Wonnacott that day in an apprentice handicap and he gets to run here off the same mark despite the handicapper raising him 6lbs for that success. His jockey can claim her full 5lb allowance in this race and he should prove hard to beat if replicating that form. 

The Stuart Williams trained MERRIMACK (best priced at 2/1) has won both of his starts since the application of a visor and he is expected to complete a hat-trick. The three-year-old was well beaten on his first three starts this season over trips of 7f and a mile but has shown dramatic improvement since dropped to sprinting trips and fitted with a visor. 

Merrimack won by 2 ½ lengths off a mark of 55 at Brighton over 6f before following up at Yarmouth a week ago off a mark of 61 by 3 ¼ lengths over 5f. The handicapper has raised him 10lbs for that victory but he instead runs here under a 6lb penalty meaning that he is 4lbs “well in” at the weights. Marco Ghiani, who is unbeaten in his two starts on him, is once again on board and he should prove hard to beat. 

The recent course and distance form of BOBACIOUS (best priced at 2/1) may get boosted by Carp Kid in the 5:55 at Sandown today and he should hold strong claims off the same mark. The Georgie Nicholls trained four-year-old finished 3rd over a mile here in June before winning by a neck at Brighton on his penultimate start off a mark of 55. 

Bobacious finished 2nd by ½ length to Carp Kid over this course and distance a week ago off a mark of 58 with the pair pulling six lengths clear of the third. The handicapper has raised him 5lbs for that run but he instead runs here off the same mark and he should prove hard to beat with Josh Bryan on board once again.