As we go into another weekend there is more horse racing action to look forward to with four meetings across the UK. Get our Friday horse racing tips and best bets for each meeting.
Another weekend looms large and Friday sees four horse racing meetings going to post across the UK where afternoon jumps racing comes from Catterick, Chepstow and Ascot; while the evening racing sees all-weather action under the floodlights at Newcastle on their tapeta surface.
Our resident tipster looks over each of the day’s racecards and picks out his Friday horse racing tips and best bets for each meeting going to post throughout the day. Can he find some more winners?
FRIDAY HORSE RACING TIPS – BEST BETS FOR CHEPSTOW, ASCOT, CATTERICK & NEWCASTLE
2:05 Ascot – Coral Handicap Chase Cl2 (4yo+ 0-145) 2m5f
RED RISK rounded off his time in France by winning over fences at Auteuil prior to joining Paul Nicholls and the No Risk At All gelding can get back to winning ways here.
Although he flopped on debut when sent off favourite he ran out a ready winner on his next outing when stepped up in trip and possibly just needed his return at Market Rasen last month behind Fidux although he ran better than the bare result on that occasion.
The better ground might not have suited having won on testing ground the time before and this surface could be more to his liking and he could yet progress over fences for his in-form yard which is operating at a near-35% strikerate with its’ runners this past fortnight.
Racing off the same mark he should also strip fitter for his reappearance and every chance he can resume winning ways on his second outing of the campaign.
Friday horse racing tips. Paul Nicholls can get amongst the winners at Ascot.
2:23 Catterick – Try Racing TV For Free Now Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) Cl4 (4yo+) 2m3½f
STORMIN NORMAN won several times on the level, most recently at this venue when scoring over 1m6f in September, beating Percy Prosecco by three lengths.
Also a former bumper winner last April the Sir Percy gelding made a winning switch to hurdling when scoring at Sedgefield in October and Micky Hammond’s charge can progress on the back of that effort where he can double up.
He won a shade comfortably that day despite the relatively narrow margin of victory and the runner-up did little harm to the form next time out when again landing a silver medal on his next outing. There could be better to come from him as he gains experience of hurdling and likely to progress on the back of that success last time he could be worth chancing to follow up his win.
2:58 Catterick – Injured Jockeys Fund Handicap Chase (Challenger Staying Chase Series Qualifier) Cl3 (4yo+ 0-130) 3m1f
I JUST KNOW has been out of sorts for a while but the Robin Des Pres gelding might be worth chancing to come back to form returning to the scene of his last success.
Sue Smith’s veteran posted his last win when taking the 2018 North Yorkshire National by a wide margin which prompted a crack at that season’s Aintree Grand National where he was a faller at Bechers on the first circuit.
Perhaps that spill dented his confidence and he hasn’t fired since either over fences or hurdles and his last start saw him beat only two home at Carlisle where he crossed the line some 50 lengths adrift. He did shape better than the bare result, involved until two out before fading and eased where his lack of sharpness was probably a factor.
But back at this venue where he is 2-2 the handicapper has eased him 5lbs which puts him back on his last winning mark and if he can build on his reappearance then he might well give a good account.
3:15 Ascot – Watch Racing Free Online At Coral Handicap Chase Cl3 (4yo+ 0-140) 3m
MR MULDOON was progressive over hurdles last term following his switch from the point-to-point ranks, winning three of his five starts over the smaller obstacles which included at this venue when beating Ashfield Paddy by three lengths readily.
Dr Richard Newland’s charge switched to the larger obstacles for his seasonal debut where the Rajj gelding made a very good first impression with a defeat of Overcourt and there’s likely better still to come from him with that under his belt.
He showed inexperience for the fences on that occasion where he made a number of mistakes; but leading over the final obstacle he stayed on well and the suspicion is he won a shade comfortably in the end.
Only 2lbs higher in the weights for this outing he could have better to come and with leading claims of a follow up win he gets the vote to make it 2-2 over fences for his shrewd yard.
Friday horse racing tips. Dr Richard Newland saddles our NAP of the day at Ascot.
3:25 Chepstow – Get Your Heart Racing This Christmas Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race) Cl4 (4yo+) 2m3½f
CHAMPAGNE RHYTHM has shown up well in a couple of bumper contests, finding only one too good at Killarney in August for Thomas O’Mara prior to joining this yard and he ran better than the bare result when fifth to Stage Star on his first run for Evan Williams at this venue in October.
The Oscar gelding shaped well faced with obstacles at Ffos Las earlier in the month, finishing nine lengths’ runner-up behind Sending Love who looked a smart prospect so there was little caste lost in that defeat.
He could progress on the back of that experience which will have taught him plenty and he could do better now especially with these more testing conditions expected to suit. He’s also in receipt of 5lbs thanks to his rider’s claim so every chance of a big performance here and he can get off the mark.
7:15 Newcastle – Heed Your Hunch At Betway Handicap Cl5 (3yo+ 0-75) 5f
NIBRAS AGAIN might be worth chancing to follow up his recent course and distance win with Paul Midgley’s yard in decent heart at present.
The Kyllachy gelding also won on the turf at Beverley in July, beating Burtonwood and he followed up that success with three efforts from four in the frame prior to getting back on the scoresheet latest with a defeat of Nubough under this rider.
He appeared to win a shade comfortably that day and a subsequent 4lbs rise leaves him well-treated on the best of his historic form; he was a winner from as high as 77 in the past and also ran well from ratings in the mid-80s so his current mark remains a winnable one and he can make his presence felt again here.