Steve Ryder has picked out three horse racing tips for Wednesday's racing at Newmarket, Fontwell and Southwell.
16:05 Newmarket
Clearly the year hasn’t gone to plan for LUNAR ECLIPSE (best priced at 9/2) who has only made the course once this season but she remains full of potential. The daughter of Night Of Thunder was a rare debut winner for David Simcock at this track on heavy ground in November when she had the now 104 rated Fair Point back in 3rd.
Lunar Eclipse made her reappearance in the listed Pretty Polly Stakes behind the 116 rated pair Friendly Soul and Kalpana and even though she could only finish 5th all of other fillies who finished 3rd, 4th, 6th and 7th are all rated higher than her opening handicap mark of 81. She has transferred to Kevin Ryan since that run but she remains full of potential and can beat her more exposed rivals.
16:15 Fontwell
The Alex Dunn trained INSTANT GAMBLER (best priced at 13/8) has proved a revelation so far this season winning all three of his chase starts and it wouldn’t surprise me if he could make it four in a row.
The eight-year-old returned from 565 days off the track to defy odds of 25/1 to win by two lengths over this course and distance in September before following up under a 7lb penalty here by 9 lengths on his next start.
Instant Gambler won comfortably by 2¼ lengths last time at Hexham and the handicapper has now raised him 7lbs for that victory. With Adam Wedge, who rode him to victory on his previous two starts, back on board he should prove hard to beat over this course and distance once again.
17:33 Southwell
QUEENS VENTURE (best priced at 11/4) was a comfortable 8 ½ length winner for the column last week and she should hold strong claims of following up under a 7lb penalty. The Dan Skelton trained four-year-old finished well beaten in her two qualifying runs in maiden hurdles in the summer but looked a completely different proposition returning from a 100 day break on her handicap debut.
Stepping up in trip to 2m7f suited Queens Venture well but I think it was more of a case of being extremely well handicapped so this drop back in trip to 2m4½f is no concern. The handicapper has raised her 11lbs for her victory so she runs here 4lbs “well in” at the weights and should prove hard to beat.
