Steve Ryder is back with three selections to follow on Friday.
4:05 AscotSee All Odds
Theory Of Tides (0.5pt ew)
Best price 7/1.
THEORY OF TIDES (best priced at 7/1) didn’t fulfil his early promise that he showed prior to him being supplemented for a Group 2 at Royal Ascot but he caught the eye when 2nd on his stable debut for Jamie Osborne. The five-year-old finished 2nd on his final start last season off a mark of 91 at Newbury before finishing 2nd by a length on his reappearance off a mark of 93.
The handicapper has raised Theory Of Tides 1lb for that effort which is fair and he now steps back up in trip to 1m4f which should suit. He can be excused his only other start at Ascot which was behind Calandagan in a Group 2 and he looks sure to run well.
4:53 ThirskSee All Odds
Wolf Of Badenoch (1pt)
Best price 3/1.
WOLF OF BADENOCH (best priced at 3/1) beat the 113 rated Lazy Griff on his debut before contesting group races for the remainder of the season behind the likes of Bay City Roller and Delacroix. He didn’t win for his next 17 starts and as a result had dropped down to a mark of 60 prior to winning at Carlisle last time when upped in trip to 1m3f for the first time.
A 3lb rise from the handicapper is fair and Wolf Of Badenoch once again steps up in trip to 1m4f for the first time in his career. Sixty Plus could prove hard to beat on his handicap debut but Wolf Of Badenoch sets the standard at this level.
7:01 ChepstowSee All Odds
Darvel (0.5pt ew)
Best price 10/1.
The Patrick Chamings trained DARVEL (best priced at 10/1) won this race last season off a mark of 66 and he runs here off only a 3lb higher mark. The eight-year-old arrives in good form having finished 2nd at Brighton on his penultimate start and 3rd on his latest start at Epsom off a mark of 68 when outrunning odds of 25/1.
Darvel won his previous race off this mark of 69 at Salisbury in August 2025 so he remains competitively handicapped and this is his first start back at Chepstow since his victory in this race last season. Charlie Bishop gets back on board for the first time this season and he should run well once again.
