Friday Horse Racing Tips & Predictions from Steve Ryder

Laudable 9/2 (1pt)

The Tristan Davidson trained LAUDABLE (best priced at 9/2) was a soft ground winner on his penultimate start and that proven form in the conditions will likely prove important today. The four-year-old completed a hat-trick of wins at Ayr, Ripon and Catterick before finishing 2nd at Musselburgh last time. 

Laudable was running under a 5lb penalty that day so in theory off a mark of 59 but he instead runs here off a mark of 57 meaning that he is 3lbs “well in” at the weights with his revised rating now 60. Sam Feilden looks a good jockey booking in this apprentice handicap and I expect him to prove hard to beat. 

Francisco’s Piece 2/1 (1pt)

King Of Light runs here from 8lbs “well in” at the weights following a good run at Ayr last week but soft ground is a question mark and preference instead goes to the top weight FRANCISCO’S PIECE (best priced at 2/1).

The Adrian Keatley trained colt was a debut winner on soft ground at Pontefract before finishing a nose 2nd behind the 104 rated Shadow Army when trying to give that rival 5lbs. He once again showed his liking for softer ground when a comfortable 2 ½ length winner in a listed race at Chantilly before slightly disappointing at both Royal Ascot and Goodwood on good to firm ground. 

Francisco’s Piece now drops into a nursery off a mark of 97 but he should relish these testing conditions and prove hard to beat despite having to give nearly a stone to his rivals. 

Fiscal Policy got back to winning ways last time over this course and distance off a mark of 68 in an apprentice handicap under Aidan Keeley and the handicapper has raised him 3lbs for that ½ length success. He instead runs here unpenalised so he is 3lbs “well in” at the weights and should prove hard to beat if able to get a good early position from Stall 9. 

Saturday 2:35 Curragh- Windlord 13/2 (0.5pt ew)

Aidan O’Brien has won the Beresford Stakes a record 21 times but not for the past two seasons and I am hoping it can go to the UK raider WINDLORD (best priced at 13/2) this year. The Andrew Balding trained colt has progressed with each of his three starts and seemed to relish the step up in trip to a mile last time at York. 

Windlord beat the well regarded Shah that day by 5 ½ lengths and that rival had previously finished 2nd behind Angelo Buonarroti (well fancied for the Royal Lodge at Newmarket) in the Convivial Maiden at York on his previous start. Connections have booked Billy Lee for the ride who won last year on Deepone and he can hopefully beat some higher rated rivals.