Friday Horse Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

This looks a competitive 0-88 handicap but preference goes to MUSTAZEED (best priced at 5/1) who won this race last year. The Harry Eustace trained six-year-old won on his stable debut last season on his reappearance over this course and distance off a mark of 77 before following up in this race by a short head off a mark of 83 under Hayley Turner. He then ran well later in the season to finish 2nd by ¾ length off this mark at Doncaster before disappointing on the AW at Newcastle.

Mustazeed showed last season that he has good form fresh and he should prove competitive off this mark with up to five places available. 

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The Michael & David Easterby trained ELIGIBLE (best priced at 11/1) won this race last season from Stall 12 and he can hopefully repeat that success from Stall 14 off only a 2lb higher mark. The eight-year-old has had a similar winter AW campaign again this year including a victory at Southwell in January off a mark of 79 and he is always competitive when his mark drops below 80.

Now off a mark of 79 following a four-length defeat at Southwell last time, Eligible returns to turf off only 2lbs higher than this race last season. Expect Joanna Mason to ride him with lots of confidence at the back of the field and hopefully he stays on well to hit the frame with up to six places available. 

A competitive 0-90 sprint handicap concludes the action at York this week and preference goes to VINCE L’AMOUR (best priced at 10/1) who has shown improved form in handicaps since being gelded this season. The three-year-old needed his reappearance when 3rd off a mark of 67 before winning at both Ripon and Catterick off marks of 66 and 72.

Vince L’Amour was only beaten a neck at Chester last week off a mark of 80 and he gets to run here off the same mark rather than his revised rating of 82. This means he is 2lbs “well in” at the weights and he should run well with up to six places available. 

The Sam England trained KINONDO KWETU (best priced at 5/2) has a great record at Aintree and he should hold strong claims of repeating his victory in this race last season. The eight-year-old has form figures of 1314 at the track with his victories coming off marks of 132 and 137. Connections kept him away from the winter ground before finishing a good 4th on Grand National day off a mark of 144 when only beaten 7 ¾ lengths. 

Kinondo Kwetu was making headway at Sandown in the bet365 Gold Cup last time but made mistakes at the final two fences but as a result the handicapper has dropped him 2lbs as a result. A mark of 142 is only 5lbs higher than when winning this race last season and he looks a worthy favourite. 

This looks a weak 0-65 three-year-old handicap and a chance is taken on CARVALHAL (best priced at 11/1) on his handicap debut. The Michael Dods trained runner showed very little in three runs as a juvenile when sent off big prices but now returns from a winter break having been gelded in that time.

The handicapper has given Carvalhal an opening mark of 62 which could underestimate this son of Profitable and he could spring a surprise on his first run for 239 days.