Horse Racing Tips on Friday, August 19
There are six meetings spread across Britain on Friday August 19th, with the action coming from Carlisle, Newbury, Newcastle, Salisbury, Wolverhampton and York. Our expert editor has produced their top tips across the cards, which make up our advised Friday Lucky 15.
Mahrajaan (13:50 York) 8/1
William Haggas and Jim Crowley enjoyed a day to remember on the Knavesmire as the magnificent Baaeed stretched his unbeaten record to ten with a staggering performance in the Juddmonte International on Wednesday. The pair team up once more in Friday’s opening contest as four-year-old MAHRAJAAN bids to resume winning ways on his fourth outing of the campaign.
The Kitten’s Joy gelding enjoyed a productive 3yo season last year, landing back-to-back novice contests and Leicester and Ripon before making a successful handicap debut towards the end of August, drawing clear inside the final furlong to land the Lanark Silver Bell at Hamilton off an opening mark of 85.
After finishing a creditable third on his seasonal reappearance at Haydock in May, Mahrajaan failed to justify strong market support after being slowly away in the valuable John Smith’s Cup at York on his following start. However, the four-year-old got firmly back on track three weeks later when narrowly denied at Newmarket over twelve furlongs despite conceding plenty of weight to each of his three rivals.
Still relatively lightly-raced, it would be no surprise to see Mahrajaan improve for the fitting of first-time cheekpieces on Friday afternoon and William Haggas’ four-year-old can hopefully record his fourth career victory here.
Freddy Robinson (15:10 Carlisle) 14/1
Despite failing to get his head in front in six starts so far, it wouldn’t be a shock to see FREDDY ROBINSON shed the maiden tag for Brian Ellison on Friday afternoon.
A half-brother to six-time winner Bling King, he was purchased by connections last April for 35,000gns and has seemingly been held in high regard since day one. Significantly, he made his juvenile debut in a six-furlong conditions event at Pontefract less than a month later, and despite being sent off the 50/1 outsider of seven, the gelded son of Adaay ran above market expectations to finish a respectable fourth. Beaten six lengths on that occasion, he finished behind three future Group performers that day including, Lusail (Group 2 winner rated 114) and Angel Bleu (dual Group 1 winner rated 113).
Despite underperforming on his final two-year-old start at Musselburgh last September, Freddy Robinson returned for his 3yo campaign at Pontefract in June and again shaped well in defeat at the West Yorkshire venue, keeping on well on his first start over a mile to finish fifth on his handicap debut following a 268-day layoff. Beaten just over three lengths, he failed to appreciate the step up to ten furlongs on his latest start at that track and it’s no surprise that connections have decided to revert back to the mile trip with him.
Rated 70, Freddy Robinson drops markedly in class on Friday afternoon and it will be disappointing if Brian Ellison’s charge fails to make an impact in a fairly modest 0-70 handicap, especially with talented claimer Ryan Sexton taking off a further 5lb.
Shampion (16:10 York) 7/2
Given her smart pedigree, a mark of 84 could underestimate SHAMPION as she turns her attention to handicaps on Friday afternoon.
Closely related to former stablemate UAE King (rated 99), she kept on strongly over a mile when fishing fourth on her sole juvenile start at Lingfield back in December. Returning to action as a 3yo last month, Shampion again caught the eye in defeat when switched to the turf at Haydock, keeping on well in the closing stages to finish runner-up behind John & Thady Gosden’s progressive filly Shaara. Stepped up to ten furlongs for the first time at Windsor just seventeen days ago, Roger Varian’s charge got off the mark in taking style, making smooth headway under Andrea Atzeni before pulling clear of her seven rivals on the run to the line to win by four lengths.
Unexposed at this trip, Shampion still has scope for improvement after just three starts and it would be no surprise if Roger Varian’s filly develops into a useful staying prospect in time.
Operating (17:20 York) 4/1
Ryan Moore teamed up with John & Thady Gosden to land last year’s renewal with Rifleman and the combination will have high hopes of landing this year’s contest courtesy of OPERATING, who appears to be a colt who is improving at a rate of knots for connections.
A half-brother to Group 3 winner Intelligence Cross, the son of War Front hinted at his ability when finishing sixth on his debut over the extended mile at Wolverhampton back in December. Following another respectable effort in defeat at Doncaster, the three-year-old got off the mark at the third time of asking at Windsor, staying on well inside the final furlong to defeat the 85-rated Devoted Poet by three parts of a length. Switched to handicaps off an opening mark of 83 at Nottingham last month, Operating doubled his tally with an impressive performance, quickening up well entering the final furlong to win going away by just under three lengths.
Up 8lb to a mark of 91, Operating still appears to be ahead of his mark and the three-year-old can complete the hat-trick before being aimed at the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket in September.