George Ryder Stakes Tips - Ceolwulf ready to produce at third run back from a spell

Here is our preview of the George Ryder Stakes

This shapes as a cracking edition of the George Ryder Stakes with Fangirl and Ceolwulf in action, as well as the last start winners in Royal Patronage and Tom Kitten. 

Fangirl heads in as favourite and comes off a last start runner-up behind the gun mare, Via Sistina, in the Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m). She produced the fastest splits from the 600m to the 200m and the second fastest last 200m to just miss, going 9.6 lengths faster than standard benchmark. The Chris Waller mare improved four lengths at this stage of her last preparation but was no match for Ceolwulf in the King Charles Stakes (1600m). 

The winner out of that was 5th in the Canterbury Stakes (1300m) and should be cherry ripe now after two runs. He improved 10 lengths on figures at this stage in the spring to finish runner-up in the Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) behind Eliyaas, who had pushed Via Sistina prior to that. Ceolwulf then went on to claim the Epsom/King Charles double. 

Aside from Buckaroo and Kovalica (who both return from a Melbourne Cup preparation), Royal Patronage comes in with the best last start figure of any runner, going 11.8 lengths faster than standard to take out the Canterbury Stakes. Tom Kitten went 9.5 lengths faster than standard with his win in the All-Star Mile at Flemington. 

Stefi Magnetica and Gringotts are in contention around the double figure odds. Stefi has excuses in the Canterbury Stakes when wide no cover after her saddle slipped before pulling up lame. She can be an improver. Likewise for Gringotts, who is a bit of a winning machine that will strip fitter after placing 3rd at Group 3 level at the start of the month. 

Gringotts and Royal Patronage will take up the running and the tempo should be even or better, giving most of the field their chance if they are good enough. Tom Kitten draws widest of the 11-horse field and might have to slide up to find a spot as a number of others like to get back. Stefi Magnetica can settle handy from the kind barrier, while the likes of Fangirl will settle back. 

I am expecting improvement from Ceolwulf and the Jo Pride-trained galloper can give this an almighty shake. He was excellent off a moderate tempo in the Canterbury Stakes, producing the second fastest last 200m and I expect him to be ready to produce third up. This is when he really came on in leaps and bounds at his last preparation that saw him leaving the likes of Royal Patronage, Tom Kitten and Fangirl in his wake in a couple of runs. He should land in a perfect spot from barrier 2 and just needs the gaps to open at the right time to take this out. 

Stefi Magnetica is one to consider for value players. The Bjorn Baker mare did have those excuse in the Canterbury Stakes and at her last run over the 1500m at Rosehill she was checked in the Golden Eagle when 5th with connections protesting against the runner-up. She probably would have filled the exacta in that race were it not for the interference. The Group 1 Stradbroke (1400m) winner finished ahead of Bella Nipotina in that race last year and should enjoy the run of the race from barrier 5.