Hi all,
There are eight meetings across Britain & Ireland on Friday. Although the most valuable race today is the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Race (5:20) at Fairyhouse. The race of the day looks to be a competitive looking 2m 4 ½ f handicap hurdle (2.50) at Market Rasen.
Market Rasen
2:50 – King Alexander is sure to be popular with punters. The Nicky Henderson trained 5-year-old comes into the race after hurdle wins at Warwick and latterly Ffos Las 18 days ago. Back in handicap company off 7lb higher than when winning at Warwick. He’s very effective on good ground and is likely capable of better than he’s shown so far.
Of his ten rivals the most interesting is Earlofthecostwolds. The 9-year-old is a three time course winner and is 2-3 over C&D. First run over timber for 530 days and his first run since finishing down the field in the Marathon on All-Weather Championship Day at Newcastle 63 days ago. If a short break has freshened him up (6-9 when returning from a 30 to 75 day layoff) then he’s got each way claims.
Top weight Hang In There was back to form over hurdles when a 1 ¼ length 2nd of 7 at Aintree three weeks ago. He jumped tidily, which hasn’t always been the case over hurdles, last time. Good ground suits and he’s on a handy mark based on his old hurdles form.
Fairyhouse
5:20 –Queen Maedbh looked a nice prospect when winning a Dundalk maiden on stable debut for Joseph O’Brien last November. The 3-year-old bounced back from low seasonal return at the Curragh (soft) last month when a length 3rd of 15 in a Curragh handicap 12 days ago. No problem with a sound surface and this looks a good opportunity for the filly.
5:55 – Baalbec Beauty is the least exposed of the eight runners in this handicap (6f). The mare has just had the six career starts and posted a career best effort when a 2 ½ length 3rd of 10 in a maiden over C&D on her seasonal reappearance 8 days ago. Interesting back in a handicap and can go well.
8:15 – Not Just Any Eagle didn’t really build on the promise of his handicap debut success at Cork last July. Down the field on heavy ground at Navan on his return to action 72 days ago but better expected with Billy Lee taking over from an apprentice today.
Goodwood
8:10 – Trainer David Menuisier isn’t exactly banging in the winners but his record in Goodwood handicaps is an appealing 11 winners from 38 runners 29% +20.33 since the start of 2017. He runs Spyfall in this 1m 4f handicap. Benoit De La Sayette who is 6 winners from 21 runners 29% +18.83, 11 placed when teaming up with the trainer has been booked. Spyfall is a seven race maiden and needs to bounce back from a poor run at Newbury last month. But if she can she’s not handicapped out of this.
Haydock
7:20 – Palm Lily, a winner on juvenile debut at Kempton last June, shaped with promise on her on her first start for 8 months when a 2 ¾ length 6th of 8 at Chester last month. The first time blinkers are applied today by trainer Ralph Beckett. Beckett is 23 winners from 107 runners 22% +88.87, 41 placed with his runners in the first time blinkers since 2018 and I can see the filly going close.
7:55 – Abate was back to winning ways in an apprentice race at Hamilton (good to firm) 9 days ago which means he’s unpenalized here. The 7-year-old will be tough to beat if in the same form. His biggest rival could be Modular Magic. He’s on a thirteen long losing run and shaped like the run was needed when 6th of 8 at Ayr 16 days ago. Quick ground suits the 6-year-old who is interesting on his first start over 6f. Yard back among the winners of late and could be the value against the short-priced favourite.
Betting Advice:
Fairyhouse
5:55 – Baalbec Beauty – 11/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
8:15 – Not Just Any Eagle – 1pt win – 7/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Haydock
7:55 – Modular Magic – 1pt win – 25/1 @ Bet365 or more likely 14/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes.
Goodwood?
Cheers
John