Life in Racing - An Interview with Steve Ryder

Jon Vine

Editor

Last updated: Wed 11 Nov 2026 10:49

Jon Vine 2 hours ago

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Life In Racing interview with Steve Ryder
Steve highlights his 6163/1 accumulator win at Lingfield as his top tipping achievement
Ryder names the Sussex Stakes as his favourite race and praises the July festival at Newmarket

In the latest instalment of our Life In Racing interview series, we speak to prominent racing tipster and journalist Steve Ryder.

Steve Ryder is a columnist, broadcaster and producer with Oddschecker and a regular pundit on Racing TV. Steve is also the resident tipster for the Daily Mail, operating under the pseudonym Robin Goodfellow.

This week, Steve joined RacingInsider.com to discuss his life in the racing industry.

Life In Racing - Steve Ryder

Racing Questions

How did you get into racing?

Despite growing up just outside Newmarket, I had no interest in horse racing until I started gambling on it with one of my friends in my first year at university. I was lucky it was that year that Frankel burst onto the scene and I followed him around the country with my first 2000 Guineas being his victory, my first Royal Ascot being his win in the St James's Palace Stakes and my first time at Goodwood being his clash with Canford Cliffs. From then I was in love with the sport and attended the Cheltenham Festival for the first time and as they say, the rest is history!

What achievement are you proudest of in your career in racing?

I went through the 6 race card at Lingfield on the 4th June 2024 for the Daily Mail which would have been a 6163/1 accumulator at SP with Tronido one of the winners at 40/1. That will be my best tipping achievement but this year I have been on Racing TV for Derby Day and Nassau Stakes day at Goodwood which I am proud of with regards to the broadcasting side.

What's your first racing memory?

I can't remember which year specifically but it became a tradition to watch the Grand National each year at my grandparents and my Mum would cut the newspaper up and give out slips as a sweepstake.

Who is your favourite horse of all time?

I fell in love with Don Cossack when I watched him win a bumper around Christmas time under Nina Carberry and I followed him ever since. He slightly disappointed as both a novice hurdler and novice chaser but thrived thereafter! I even cried running to the parade ring after he won the Melling Chase by half the track at Aintree under AP McCoy but managed to hold it together when he won the Gold Cup.

What's your favourite race on the calendar?

I love the Sussex Stakes. Year after year, we get to see the 3yos from all Guineas and the St James's Palace Stakes face their elders from the Queen Anne Stakes. Sometimes you get hard luck stories as always at Goodwood but that adds to the spice of it!

What do you think is the most underrated race meeting or festival?

It has to be the July festival at Newmarket. Three days of brilliant racing and great weather. The undercards with the Duchess Of Cambridge and Superlative Stakes etc on have produced future champions as well as obviously the July Cup!

When studying the form of a race, what do you pay most attention to?

I love previous course and distance form. Racecourses are so unique with undulations, configuration and pace bias etc that I love the fact a horse has already shown good form under those specific conditions.

What's your most painful punting story?

It is quite a recent one from last year's Cheltenham Festival. I put up and backed a 314/1 treble on Racing Weekly with Wodhooh 8/1 (Mares), Final Demand 6/1 (Brown Advisory) and Teahupoo 4/1 (Stayers Hurdle) which was backed all the way down to 13.43/1 with them 7/4, EVENS and 13/8 at one stage. Thankfully it didn't go down to the final leg!

Which figure in racing, past or present, would you love to meet?

I am lucky enough to have spoken to many of my "heroes" in the Press room and on course at the likes of the Cheltenham Festival and Royal Ascot but that was since Sir Henry Cecil had died. Even a 5 minute conversation with him would have been fascinating.

If you could make one change to the Cheltenham Festival, what would it be?

I would make an additional 14 day entry/confirmation stage where connections could only enter horses for one race. I know they will moan about distances based on ground conditions but it will make previewing the races so much easier and we can build more excitement for the specific races.

Quickfire Five

Apart from racing, what's your favourite sport?

I am a keen runner so participation wise it would be running but I love watching any sport really. Cricket, Tennis, Snooker, Football and F1 amongst others.

Which racecourse that you've been to serves the best food?

We are spoilt in the Alistair Haggis Press Room at Ascot. The food served there is second to none on course.

What's your favourite drink to have during a day at the races?

Guinness. Always Guinness!

What's your favourite music album of all time?

The toughest question of all. Has to be between Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I Am That's What I'm Not, and Oasis- Definitely Maybe.

What's your favourite sandwich?

A hungover Bacon Sandwich with Ketchup and plenty of butter!