Friday’s 1,558/1 Lucky 15 – Our UK Racing Best Bets On May 27

Horse Racing Tips on Friday, May 27

There are eight race meetings scheduled across the UK and Ireland on Friday 27th May, with the action coming from Brighton, Carlisle, Chepstow, Haydock, Pontefract, Stratford, Fairyhouse and Limerick. Our expert editor has produced their top tips across the cards, which make up our advised Friday Lucky 15.

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Poetic Force (3.55 Brighton)

There isn’t much separating the four runners currently in the market and whilst recent scorers Darvel and Covert Mission are entitled to respect once again, they are both likely to take each other on from a fairly early stage here and it could set the race up perfectly for POETIC FORCE, who was strong at the finish when second over course and distance last time out and now drops slightly in grade for Friday’s assignment. 

Despite enduring a frustrating campaign last season, Poetic Force has seemingly got back on track this year for connections – winning for the first time since August 2020 on his seasonal reappearance at Lingfield back in February as well as finishing runner-up against Class 3 opposition at Wolverhampton on his penultimate start. 

Rated 69, Poetic Force remains well-handicapped on his past exploits and after only being narrowly denied over course and distance when last seen, trainer Tony Carroll will be confident his charge can go one place better and record another victory for the yard. 

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Dulla Bhatti (4:30 Carlisle)

The majority in this seven-runner field are thoroughly exposed, but those comments certainly don’t apply to DULLA BHATTI, who was having just his sixth start for Michael Dods on his seasonal return at Wetherby and remains open to plenty of improvement this campaign as a four-year-old. 

Unraced as a juvenile, Michael Dods’ charge was quick to get off the mark on just his second start last year, staying on well to land a 6f novice event at Hamilton by two and a half lengths. Although he failed to get his head in front on his following three outings, Dulla Bhatti ran encouragingly in defeat, including when not beaten far on his final three-year-old start at Haydock over seven furlongs. 

Setting the pace on that occasion, Michael Dods’ charge relinquished the lead inside the closing stages but kept on noticeably well in behind, going down narrowly in fourth place. That particular effort in defeat looks useful considering the first, second, and fifth have all franked the form since.

Returning from a 233-day break in April, Dulla Bhatti again made his intentions clear when setting the early fractions at Wetherby over the seven-furlong trip. Despite readily seeing off the challenge of odds-on favourite Big Narstie, the four-year-old was ultimately collared in the closing stages by Roger Fell’s talented handicapper Admirality. 

Considering his only career victory so far has come on a stiff track, Dulla Bhatti should be well suited by Carlisle’s undulations on Friday afternoon and Michael Dods’ lightly-raced four-year-old should take plenty of beating. 

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Manigordo (8.25 Haydock)

On paper, this looks to be a fairly wide-open six-furlong handicap with plenty in here holding claims in some shape or form. Both Macho Pride and Hail Sezer wouldn’t be winning out of turn based on their most recent efforts, however, it’s difficult to ignore the obvious claims of MANIGORDO, who remains 4lb below his last winning mark and certainly hinted at a return to form when finishing second at Ripon three weeks ago. 

Despite his form tailing off towards the end of last season, Manigordo posted some notable efforts during his four-year-old campaign. Defying odds of 25/1 on just his second start for Tim Easterby at Thirsk last April, he then lost little in defeat when finishing third behind well-regarded stablemate Lampang at Hamilton just two months later. 

Second at Redcar behind David Barron’s Zarzyni in July, Tim Easterby’s charge went on to run a tremendous race in the valuable Great St Wilfrid Handicap at Ripon – fairing best of those who were drawn on the wrong part of the track to finish a respectable fifth. 

Although he shaped badly in need of his return to action following a 181-day break, Manigordo stepped up markedly on his comeback run when chasing home three-time course and distance winner Fortmaour at Ripon earlier this month. Contesting Class 5 company for just the second time in his career on Friday evening, Manigordo is certainly the class angle in this six-furlong contest and it will be disappointing if the five-year-old fails to land the spoils from his current mark of 77. 

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Cognocenti (8:30 Pontefract)

Market leader Fylde Coast wasn’t beaten far over this trip at Beverley and will be fancied to go close, however, the three-year-old didn’t look the easiest of rides last time out and he is probably worth taking on here. 

It could pay to focus on the three handicap debutants in this and the narrow vote goes to COGNOCENTI, who tackled the ten furlong trip on his debut at Redcar back in April and probably has more to offer now that he has been allocated an official mark. 

Sent off big prices in novice company, handicaps have clearly been the plan for the son of Intello since day one, and whilst he’s occupied the same finishing position on all three of his starts so far, the three-year-old has shown glimpses of promise on the track and certainly hasn’t appreciated the drop back to a mile in his latest outings. 

Rated 68, connections have wasted little time in stepping Cognocenti back up in trip for his handicap debut on Friday evening, and it would come as no surprise if Tim Easterby’s charge improves markedly and registers a first career victory.