Thursday Horse Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

This looks a competitive handicap but preference goes to MIDNIGHT GUN (best priced at 9/2) who makes his first start for Hamad Al Jehani and Wathnan Racing having made a winning handicap debut last time. The three-year-old is well bred being by Kingman out of 1000 Guineas winner Sky Lantern which makes him a half-brother to Group 1 winner Snow Lantern. 

Midnight Gun disappointed slightly on his first two career starts on the AW before winning by two lengths at Nottingham on his turf debut. He won by ½ length on his handicap debut at Newmarket in June off an opening mark of 88 and a 5lb rise seems fair given the fact he should improve for this step up in trip to 1m2f.   

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Clive Cox won this race in 2019 and 2020 with Golden Horde and Supremacy and he should hold strong claims this year with APARAJEO (best priced at 14/1). The Invincible Army colt made a winning debut at Windsor which is where he two stablemates broke their maidens as well as stable star Tis Marvellous a few years ago. 

Aparajeo upset an odds on favourite that day to win by ½ length and it seems significant that he has been targeted at this race since. Rossa Ryan retains the ride and he looks overpriced to hit the frame at a big price.

The Jonny Portman trained NEW HEIGHTS (best priced at 6/1) has a fantastic record at Epsom in his career and he should hold strong claims off top weight. The six-year-old is unbeaten in his three starts the track over 1m½f where he hasn’t looked like stopping late on shaping like this step up in trip to 1m2f would be no problem. 

Since his victory here in September off a mark of 75, he has dropped back down from a mark of 79 to 75 in his four races this season. Having been sent off big prices including at 66/1 at Windsor last time, I have no doubt this race will have been a target for a while and he should run well with Olivia Tubb claiming a handy 5lbs.