Ben Linfoot's 9/4 Nap won at Newbury earlier - don't miss the rest of his Friday selections from around the tracks.
Friday selections
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- LEAVE OF ABSENCE to win 2.30 Newbury
- SPARTAN TIMES to place 4.55 Southwell (4 places)
- HEART ABOVE to win 5.00 Musselburgh
LEAVE OF ABSENCE – 2.30 Newbury (NAP)
LEAVE OF ABSENCE can exploit a mark of 127 now he switches to handicaps in the Focus Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase at Newbury. Anthony Honeyball’s horse has shown real promise in both chasing starts so far, finishing second to Iberico Lord in a hot little race at Kempton before he was plunged into the Reynoldstown at Ascot last time. That was a tough task but he lost nothing in defeat 24 lengths behind The Changing Man, picking up £17k for the silver medal and keeping his rating as it is. The experience will have done him good and, back at galloping Newbury where he was so impressive in winning his bumper, he can land this handicap pot.
ROUGE DE L’QUEST – 3.40 Ffos Las
Rebecca Curtis’ ROUGE DE L’QUEST likes better ground and he can bounce back at a track he loves in the “West Wales National” Handicap Chase at Ffos Las. The nine-year-old won at this course by 13 lengths last March and he was a head away from going in again a month later over the course and distance on similar going. He was on a roll in the tongue-tie and blinkers combination then and after trying a visor last time he’s back in the ‘tb’ for this assignment under Ben Jones.
SPARTAN TIMES – 4.55 Southwell
Jennie Candlish’s horses are in the groove and she can extend her good recent run with SPARTAN TIMES in the 1m4f apprentice handicap that opens the Southwell card. This four-year-old clearly likes a Tapeta surface and he’s unexposed at the trip, while a tongue-tie is added to his equipment. Warren Fentiman is a great jockey booking in this type of race and, given he is 4 from 7 for the yard, the Spartan Times team probably mean business on Friday.
HEART ABOVE – 5.00 Musselburgh
Dianne Sayer’s HEART ABOVE looks to have been primed for a go at the Racing Post Go North Sea Pigeon Hurdle Series Final at Musselburgh. The seven-year-old finished second in the Kelso qualifier before winning the Musselburgh one and was then put away, avoiding the worst of the deep midwinter ground, before returning after 80 days off back at this track last time. Hampered after four out, he ran on nicely for third and, with the promise of improvement from that effort to come, he looks the one to beat.
KALIUM - 2.05 Newbury (NAP)
KALIUM looks overpriced off the back of an admittedly disappointing run at Carlisle which can't be put solely down to the ground given his win on soft at Fontwell prior to that. In third that day was the now 128 rated Andashan which suggests there's mileage in his handicap mark of 120 while the return to a faster surface can only be in Kalium's favour given his impressive Irish bumper win and second to the well-regarded La Marquise on his hurdling bow (Oh My Johnny fourth). He is related to stayers in France so should appreciate moving up in trip. Tim Vaughan has only had four runners at Newbury in the past five seasons but with a winner, a second and a fourth suggests he doesn't come here to make up the numbers and Kalium can outrun his odds.
SALSADA - 2.25 Kelso
SALSADA didn't land a blow on her sole course outing in the Morebattle Hurdle but this trip promises to suit better and the enigmatic mare is worth another chance. After back-to-back wins at Sedgefield at around this distance, she was sent in search of some black type and wasn't disgraced in the face of a stiff task over three miles before dropping back to two miles in a competitive heat where she again ran well enough for all that she didn't justify market support. A career best is needed but Salsada is a mid-80s Flat form and is capable of producing it granted her optimum conditions.
SUNSHINE DIAMOND - 4.02 Bangor
This looks competitive but SUNSHINE DIAMOND showed a good attitude on debut for Neil Mulholland and should be competitive on his handicap debut with underfoot conditions similar. He's benefitted from the fitting of cheekpieces for his last two starts, looks to be on a fair mark and returns to action with his stable in fine form while the booking of Sean Bowen isn't a statistically strong run for the yard, having the title chasing jockey on board is no negative.
BELLA VENETA - 5.28 Wolverhampton
Rab Havlin and Tom Faulkner have struck with two of their last three runners together, including Prince Ali who goes again in the finale. BELLA VENETA's claims are not as clear as she moves up in class and trip but she may not be a forlorn hope. On paper she should enjoy the stamina test as a half-sister to a couple of middle distance winners and she looked in need of it on her return at this venue. If she improves for it she could look well handicapped off 60 having begun life off 78 and been competitive from marks in the mid-60s.
GANESHA - 8.15 Newcastle
A wind operation has brought an upturn to GANESHA's fortunes with a promising run followed by last time's C&D victory from Frank The Spark and Darlo Pride. He didn't have an awful lot in hand of those rivals but a 3 lb rise - taking Ganesha to 70 - is fair and given that he was rated 88 less than 12 months ago, there's a live hope that he can go in again.
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2025 winners
- Leave Of Absence 9/4 (NAP)
- Regarde 5/2
- Gemmari 11/4 (NAP)
- Timetoshine 9/4
- Tuco Salamanca 7/4
- Jagwar 3/1 (NAP)
- Penzance 3/1
- Youdecide 15/8
- Pururhandstogether 17/2 (NAP)
- The Organiser 6/5
- Skin Full 13/8
- Millie Supreme 9/2
- Heads Or Harps 11/8
- Party Vibes 7/2
- I See The Sea 2/1
- Le Tiep's Sacre 100/30
- Born In The West 2/1 (NAP)
- Awaythelad 9/2
- Charmaine 2/1 (NAP)
- Henrysbrotherjack 11/8 (NAP)
- Outer Banks 9/1
- Elterwater 5/2
- Glen Buck 10/11 (NAP)
- Teddy Blue 7/2 (NAP)
- Ray Gun 18/5
- Sun Keeper 5/1
- Jackpot Cash 3/1 (NAP)
- Arcadian Nights 100/30
- Leadenhall Street 5/4 (NAP)
- Pic D'Orhy 9/5
- Golden Ace 6/5
- Myretown 5/2 (NAP)
- Apiarist 11/2
- Sainte Doctor 4/1
- Plage De Lavre 5/4
- Aviemore 4/1
- Rey De La Batalla 11/2
- New Found Fame 6/1
- Pilgrims King 5/1
- Saint Anapolino 10/3
- Blue Anthem 5/1
- Buzz Box 5/2
- Dance In The Storm 8/11
- Northern Cracksman 9/4
- Kylian 9/4
- Sol Cayo 2/1
- George's Lad 10/11
- Beauty Generation 15/8
- Komedy Kicks 11/4 (NAP)
- Our Havana 6/1
- Manara 2/1
- Jimmy Knocker 13/2
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