Horse Racing Tips On Friday, August 12
There are three Pattern races within Friday’s cards. A selection in one of those from Newbury, as well as two others from that card and one from Nottingham, appear in our 4,025/1 Lucky 15 best bets on Friday.
Dusky Prince (2.20 Nottingham)
For all Silky Wilkie has been in great condition this season, he is yet to record back-to-back victories in that spell. That is a factor in him being opposable at a short price here.
Archie Watson’s DUSKY PRINCE has been an unusual horse to follow since his career started. It began very promisingly with a debut success, but he soon went 13 races without a victory, sliding gradually down the weights. He was seemingly in endless freefall.
However, it may have simply been that he did not enjoy his relatively lengthy spell on the all-weather between October and February, as he returned to turf with some respectable runs at Redcar and Salisbury from May. Ironically, it was back on Wolverhampton’s tapeta that he eventually broke through into the winners’ enclosure again.
That said, he followed that win with two more in quick succession at Windsor and Doncaster and it was a competitive Glorious Goodwood handicap in which he was fourth at the end of July. He is 2lb better off with Silky Wilkie with 1½ lengths to overturn and could well manage that given the run he was previously on.
Chief Of Staff (2.35 Newbury)
Now that Zulu Tracker is off the mark, he could take some pegging back. Yet, the two wins he has achieved have been in very winnable opportunities, reflected in his SPs of 11/8 and 4/9.
This is a lot tougher and he may bump into one in the shape of CHIEF OF STAFF. It feels like a very pointed move by Saeed bin Suroor to drop this horse so markedly in trip to 7f.
The Godolphin horse was rated 80 after getting off the mark at Brighton last season. That was his only victory, coming over this exact trip. His yard have since campaigned him almost exclusively over further, including on three occasions over 1m2f this year, but he is now back three furlongs in trip off a very tempting mark.
On his second to The Whipmaster at Lingfield in May, he is very well-treated off the same mark given what that horse has achieved this season. There is good reason to believe a move like this has been plotted and he can go close.
Funny Story (3.10 Newbury)
There are no prizes for spotting the standout piece of form. It belongs to Maylandsea, who was second to the potential superstar Dramatised in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Michael Bell’s filly ran a superb race that day, but having her as a strong favourite after flopping last time seems a mistake. There are plenty who may prove capable of challenging her, for all she may be better back at 5f.
One of those is Ralph Beckett’s FUNNY STORY, who won in good style on Newmarket’s July course on debut. She finished powerfully over 6f, but should have enough speed for the minimum trip being by Havana Grey, while the depth of that race was substantial enough too.
She beat Ivory Madonna that day, who has been beaten under two lengths in Group 3 contests either side of her defeat to Funny Story. Given this filly could achieve a comfortable beating of her on debut, she could go on to achieve very good things before the season is up.
Absolutelyflawless (3.40 Newbury)
A rating of 79 probably underestimates ABSOLUTELYFLAWLESS on her first two starts and she can take advantage of it on her nursery debut.
David Loughnane’s two-year-old managed to win well at both Southwell and Chester despite being slowly away. Her performance at the latter track was particularly notable and though Star Of Lady M overturned that form next time out at Beverley, another slow start, coupled with being squeezed leaving the stalls, left her too much to do.
She still managed to plug on into fourth before being outclassed when upped to Listed company at Newmarket. However, that race was particularly strong for that level and the drop back to 5f in this company is of great benefit.
She should be able to progress off this mark and is a must back if remaining at an each-way price.