As we hurtle towards the weekend there are five meetings making up the racing quota in the UK and Ireland on Friday.
Jumps action in the afternoon comes from Catterick, Ascot and Chepstow, while later on the Friday Night Lights will be on at Kempton and Dundalk for their all-weather meetings.
Our Friday fancies include a second-time-out chaser looking to record a maiden success over fences at Chepstow.
Selections
Tip 1
Though proving a little disappointing as a hurdler last season, Anthony Honeyball’s mare CREDO (11/4) made a good start to her chasing career at Hereford (3m1f, good to soft) earlier this month and can open her account in the Angela Nettlefold Memorial Mares’ Handicap Chase (13:45).
She finished second in that Mares’ handicap, travelling like the best horse for most of the journey and losing out in a head-bobber on the line after a sustained duel with fellow chasing newcomer Do You Think – Emma Lavelle’s charge in receipt of 10lb from the runner-up.
Credo is turned out here from an unchanged mark and will be due to rise 3lb from tomorrow. With progress likely after that pleasing start over fences, she’s fancied to go one spot better on her visit to Wales.
Tip 2
Nicky Henderson was positive with regards to JANIKA (15/2) in a recent stable tour, suggesting he was ‘quite forward’ and ready for action once the ground eased.
He gets soft ground for the Royal Ascot Racing Club Handicap Chase (14.05) and could show himself to be a well-handicapped horse in the hands of Daryl Jacob for owners Simon Munir and Isaac Suede.
He’s run well here in the past, finishing second behind Riders Onthe Storm in the Grade 1 Betfair Ascot Chase in the spring of 2020 over C&D and having reached a high of 165, he’s returning now with an official mark of 141.
Now nine years old, Janika has had a wind operation over the summer and it’s noteworthy that Henderson – whose Seven Barrows team are in excellent fettle – pinpointed him as one who will be ready to hit the ground running.
Tip 3
A debut winner here in December 2020, GLOUCESTERSHIRE (11/2) has been well travelled since, spending time in the United States with Todd Pletcher last season before returning to Martyn Meade.
His first start second time around for this handler came at Salisbury (1m2f, good to soft) in late September and he shaped as though he’d improve for that first run in 208 days.
He takes a slight drop in class for this all-weather return and should be very competitive back around Kempton as he bids to make it 2-2 at the Sunbury track.
Kevin Stott, a man in form on the synthetic surfaces this winter, takes the ride and Gloucestershire can justify his position on Friday’s Most Napped table via the Betfred Betfinder with a big run.
