Horse Racing Tips on Friday, March 11
There are four meetings spread across Britain on Friday, March 11th with the action coming from Leicester, Exeter, Newcastle and Wolverhampton. Our expert tipster has produced their best bets across the cards, which make up our advised Friday Lucky 15.
Morning Spirit (1.15 Exeter)
Exeter’s opening Virgin Bet Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase looks a good opportunity for Jonjo O’Neill’s MORNING SPIRIT, who took a crunching fall on chase debut at Aintree in October yet showed no signs that had left any mental scars when a close second over course and distance next time out.
That form has been franked by the winner since, and although up 2lb that rise is offset by rider Kevin Brogan’s claim.
This looks like a competitive affair but Morning Spirit is far from exposed over the larger obstacles and 3m on soft ground holds no fears, so he rates the value play at the prices.
Friday Lucky 15 Tips. Jonjo O’Neill’s Morning Spirit looks a good bet in the opener at Exeter.
Phoenix Strike (3.05 Newcastle)
The Quinnbet Handicap Hurdle doesn’t look like a particularly strong contest, and it could pay to side with PHOENIX STRIKE, who has had fewer hurdling opportunities than most.
A modest nine-race maiden on the level, this son of Casamento showed an aptitude for this sphere when a 50/1 fourth at Wetherby in October, and he bounced back from a pair of modest subsequent runs when third at Sedgefield last time.
That run came on handicap debut over hurdles, and it’s worth noting that the two directly ahead of him that day have both won since.
That makes a subsequent 1lb weights drop look all the more lenient and Richie McLernon maintains the partnership this afternoon.
Per Vino Veritas (3.30 Exeter)
The Virgin Bet Novices’ Handicap Hurdle looks like a good chance for PER VINO VERITAS, who posted RPRs in the mid-90s in each of his first three starts over hurdles.
Colin Tizzard’s charge improved on those showings, however, when beaten just over 4l into sixth on his handicap debut at Taunton last time.
Per Vino Veritas travelled quite powerfully throughout that race before his stamina appeared to give way late, and dropping back to this extended 2m looks a plus on that evidence. Brendan Powell takes over in the saddle here from claimer Harry Kimber and Per Vino Veritas appears to hold a greater scope for improvement than most of these rivals.
Friday Lucky 15 Tips. Colin Tizzard’s Per Vino Veritas can give the Dorset handler a winner on the Exeter card.
Give Us A Swig (4.40 Exeter)
The 3m Virgin Bet Handicap Chase closes the Exeter card but this looks, on paper at least, an incredibly weak affair and it would be a big disappointment if GIVE US A SWIG couldn’t prove up to landing this.
This son of Trans Island had been in good form at Ffos Las and Lingfield before putting in a well below par showing when sent off the favourite for a handicap at Taunton in December.
Nothing seemingly came to light after that run, but Give Us A Swig proved it to be far from his true running when bouncing back with a Ffos Las second last time. Give Us A Swig travelled well into that race and was still well in contention before an error at the final fence put paid to his chances.
The front two pulled 25l clear of the remainder that day, so the 3lb rise that Give Us A Swig received does not look unwarranted, but even so, Jack Wildman’s 7lb negates that and the claimer was seen aboard a Sean Curran winner at Sandown earlier this week.