Matt Brocklebank has the Friday best bets from around the tracks with the Nap in action at Windsor.
Thursday selections
TARGET MAN – 7.00 Chelmsford
George Boughey and Billy Loughnane can combine with TARGET MAN in the novice stakes at Chelmsford (7.00). The newly-gelded son of Earthlight has run consistently well in four all-weather starts without winning but progression is expected after three months off and the gelding operation. He’s probably the most likely leader amongst this quartet and Loughnane can dictate the fractions up front before seeing them all off.
Friday selections
Sky Bet odds | Paddy Power | Betfair Sportsbook
DEAFENING SILENCE - 1.15 Windsor (NAP)
It's a huge weekend for Dan and Harry Skelton with loads of decent prize-money up for grabs and the yard looks to be coming into it in very good form. It's hoped DEAFENING SILENCE has been aimed at this Windsor event for a while as he looks to be crying out for a move up to three miles based on his two chase starts to date. The latest came in a really hot race at Cheltenham (form has worked out already) and from an opening mark of 133, Deafening Silence looks nicely treated based on his classy novice hurdle form from last winter.
GRANDADS COTTAGE - 1.25 Market Rasen
The Unibet Middle Distance Chase Series Veterans' Handicap Chase is a decent event at Market Rasen and there seems little reason to jump ship from GRANDADS COTTAGE following his comeback win at Carlisle. Granted, he's been hit quite hard with a 9lb rise but looked on great terms with himself a month ago and he won here a couple of years ago too which bodes well. Olly Murphy's horses are in great nick and this lightly-raced chestnut is likely to be ridden a little closer to the pace on this occasion.
HEATHCLIFF - 2.10 Newcastle
HEATHCLIFF hasn't been seen for a while but we know he's a good horse fresh and it's unlikely trainer James Fanshawe has left an awful lot to work on fitness-wise. A big improver on the all-weather last year, the four-year-old is still creeping into these decent handicaps at the right end of the weights and he should get a decent pace to chase in this field (Timeform pace map suggests 'strong' early gallop). His stamina for a bit further is a great asset on the stiff course at Newcastle and a fifth career win would come as no surprise, especially with Tom Marquand in for the ride for the first time.
G'DAY MATE - 6.30 Southwell
Existent has all the ability in the world but he's also a bit of a nightmare if you're backing him as he constantly flatters to deceive. The recommendation is to take him on with Mick Appleby's G'DAY MATE, who was having his first run for 148 days when fourth of seven at Lingfield last month. He was a bit keen early on there in the first-time cheekpieces (retained on Friday) but the outing should have blown away the cobwebs and getting back over the minimum distance looks a decent move as his sole career success came over this trip as a juvenile.
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