Steve Ryder has three tips for Sunday, coming from Newmarket, Cork and Hamilton.
Oliver Brown Pretty Polly Stakes
13:45 Newmarket
The Gosden stable have won the Pretty Polly Stakes eight times since 2009 including recently in 2021, 2023 and 2024. They run SACRED GROUND (best priced at 2/1) who still looked green when making a winning debut at Yarmouth in October before finishing 2nd in the listed Montrose Stakes over a mile here in November.
Being out of Oaks winner Anapurna, this step up in trip to 1m2f should suit Sacred Ground and she looks the one to beat despite having 14lbs to find with Esna on official ratings.
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7f Handicap
2:30 Cork
A record of 1-13 doesn’t show the ability of GLENEAGLE BAY (best priced at 11/1) but he has run well in competitive handicaps on multiple other occasions. The Stephen Thorne trained six-year-old placed on three starts last season off marks of 92, 95 and 97 so he is starting to look well handicapped off a mark of 94.
Gleneagle Bay didn’t wear his usual cheekpieces on his reappearance run over a mile at the Curragh but now drops back to his preferred distance of 7f with headgear re-applied. He looks overpriced with Jack Kearney back on board claiming a handy 3lbs.
6f Handicap
4:25 Hamilton
COSMIC CLARETS (best priced at 7/2) put behind him form figures of 0000 to finish 2nd on his reappearance this season having been gelded at the end of last year. The Richard & Peter Fahey trained three-year-old was sent off a well supported 3/1 favourite that day and was only beaten halfa length at the finish.
The handicapper has raised Cosmic Clarets 1lb for that effort which is fair and if he can replicate that form back on turf then he should hold strong claims of getting off the mark at the eighth attempt.
