By Ray Hickson Joe Pride says talented galloper New Tipperary needs a confidence boost and can think of no better rider at present than Jay Ford to bring that out. It’s partially because Ford has form on the gelding – he rode the five-year-old to his last win back in November – and recent form for the trainer. In the past seven days Ford has ridden four winners from his last five rides for Pride so it’s no surprise his services are being used in the A W Edwards Handicap (1800m) at Randwick on Saturday. “You have to be really strong on him, he' a horse that takes a fair bit of riding,’’ Pride said. “He's a funny horse, I'll leave it to Jay. He could win on a broomstick of mine the way he's riding for me at the moment.’’ New Tipperary has had two runs from spell and was hard in the market when fifth at Flemington in a 1400m Listed race on October 7. Pride was happy enough with the run but not so much with the ride after he worked hard out wide on the pace. While he’s taking on a red-hot favourite in Interlocuter ($2.30-$1.85 early), Pride said New Tipperary ($5.50 second favourite) is more than capable. “It's a nice race for him, hopefully we don't get too much rain,’’ he said. “A confidence boosting win would do him the world of good. He's in terrific order and I'm expecting him to go close.’’ The Warwick Farm trainer has a healthy opinion of new recruit Tactical Advantage who makes his debut for the stable in the E-Group Security Sprint (1000m). The promising gelding is backing up after trialling strongly on his home track on Tuesday but Pride explained it was a deliberate move with a specific aim. “He's a bit of a handful on race day so if I give him a trial close to the race hopefully he behaves himself,’’ he said. “He's a really smart horse, to state the obvious. It's a nice race for him to resume in, it's nice to be able to start him off in the lowest grade I can.’’ Tactical Advantage's Warwick Farm trial on Tuesday Tactical Advantage, a winner of five from 10, hasn’t raced since finishing a close second in a 1200m Listed race at Doomben in June. Pride has both Passage Of Time and Gamblestown in the McMahon’s Racecourse Construction Handicap (1400m). He said Passage Of Time raced a bit flat when finishing fourth at Canterbury second-up and is expecting him to bounce back while Gamblestown showed a return to form running second under a big weight at Canberra on October 6. Check out all the form and replays for Saturday's meeting at Royal Randwick
