There’s five meetings to get stuck into across the UK on Friday, 14th October as we gear up to the superb racing this weekend, with the action coming from Fakenham, Haydock, Newcastle, Redcar and Uttoxeter. Our lucky 15 includes a couple of confident picks at Haydock, plus one apiece at Fakenham and Redcar.
Our expert tipster has produced their best bets across the cards, which make up our advised Friday Lucky 15.
Odds correct at time of posting – 3:35pm Thursday 13th October
Destiny’s Spirit (1.40 Haydock) – 11/2
Lumacho heads the betting but was beat by DESTINY’S SPIRIT last time out, and the latter is now 5lb better off with that rival, so looks a fantastic option to land the opener at Haydock.
Since dropping back to the minimum trip, she has won two of her three races and was only touched off by ¾ of a length in the other. That defeat came at the hands of Lumacho when she was 3lb lighter than the winner, but reversed that form last time out at Yarmouth. She’s now even better off at the weights with that rival, so it’s difficult to see why she’s bigger odds than Lumacho this time.
We’re confident she has the beating of that rival, so the biggest danger could come from Kanawha, who our selection beat at Yarmouth last month but has since come out and won at Wolverhampton. But it’s Destiny’s Spirit who looks to be the one they all have to beat and it would be no surprise to see her go off as favourite.
Tommie Beau (2.05 Fakenham) – 11/2
There are plenty of runners who come here on the back of a win, and although our selections win came five months ago we’re confident TOMMIE BEAU can make a winning return at a course he loves.
Seamus Mullins gelding has won all three of her races here, including winning here last year on the back of a similar length break. That also includes his last win, when staying on strongly over a longer trip, so stamina is assured here.
Since going chasing, he has won three and placed in two of his seven races, and Michael Nolan was on board for the most recent two wins. He remains on board here, and the course specialist has an excellent chance of winning this, with Spiritofthegames and Fakir the likeliest dangers.
Elladora (4.19 Redcar) – 9/1
There’s a big field for this handicap, but there is one who has caught our eye – Katie Scott’s ELLADORA. She ran out an impressive winner of a better race at Ayr last time out, and the drop back into class 6 company can see her land a quickfire double.
She made all to win that race last week, and was always doing enough. She might face more of a challenge here for the lead, but as long as she stays up with the pace she should be in with a chance. Both of her wins have come at this time of year and it may be the case that the drop in class is enough to see her land back-to-back wins for the first time in her career.
Jockey P J McDonald is on board for the first time but has a healthy 17% strike-rate at Redcar this year, so that’s a positive to our selections chances. Of the rest, Tar Heel bolted up to win last time out and rates the biggest danger, but with the drop in class sure to help we’re happy to take him on with Elladora.
Kincade (5.08 Haydock) – 9/2
KINCADE seems to be getting better the further he goes and the step up to 2m 1f last time out saw him shed his maiden tag, and although dropping back slightly in trip he looks a cracking bet to take on the market leader Qoya with.
He placed on his first two races of the year when stepping up to 1m 4f for the first time, before placing again when upped to 1m 6f. The step up in trip again last time out saw him finally get his head in front, where he pulled clear with Nikhi and never looked in danger of losing the race.
That was a better race than this and he looks good value to follow up here. Qoya also won last time out and will be the chief danger, but at the odds we’re willing to take a chance that the drop in class will be enough to see Kincade make a winning return from a 72 day break.