Friday racing tips
ASCOT: 12.45 East India Express, 1.20 BELLIANO (NAP), 1.55 Iberico Lord, 2.30 Golden Move, 3.05 Johnnywho, 3.40 Doctor Blue.
DUNDALK: 4.15 Sharkii, 4.45 Touch The Sound, 5.15 Dahab, 5.45 Eyema Candy Girl, 6.15 Dumb Love, 6.45 Ranko Express, 7.15 Just Another Eagle, 7.45 Exquisite Acclaim.
SOUTHWELL: 11.00 Tiempo Alegre, 11.30 Northern Cracksman, 12.00 Charlatan, 12.32 Sugar Hill Babe, 1.07 Cemlyn, 1.42 Kitty Furnival, 2.17 Opticality, 2.52 Picturesque, 3.27 Dashing Panther.
UTTOXETER: 11.45 Eagles Gold, 12.20 Dazzlelikethis, 12.55 Night Jet, 1.30 Heros De Romay, 2.05 Pats Dream, 2.40 Let’s Go Joe, 3.15 Parish Star.
WOLVERHAMPTON: 4.30 Perfect Life, 5.00 Fernando, 5.30 Astral Sea, 6.00 Mystery Of Love, 6.30 Valadero, 7.00 Alright Sunshine, 7.30 Bass Player, 8.00 Eagle Day, 8.30 Bomb Squad.
DOUBLE: Johnnywho and Belliano
Johnnywho should be suited by the drop in trip for the Howden Noel Novices’ Chase at Ascot.
Having been campaigned at largely three miles over hurdles, he made his chasing debut over two and a half at Carlisle and looked a natural.
However, over the same trip at Newbury The Jukebox Man took him out of his comfort zone as he stretched the field with his exuberant jumping and Johnnywho could never quite get on terms.
He made a mistake at the third-last and after that his race was over, before weakening to be beaten just over 10 lengths by the impressive winner.
Down a furlong in trip here against lesser opposition, he can add another nice prize for the in-form Jonjo and AJ O’Neill.
Harry Cobden can return from a few days on the sidelines with a winner courtesy of Belliano in the Howden Maiden Hurdle.
A winning point-to-pointer, he changed hands for a whopping £255,000 at Tattersalls December Sales last year.
He made his debut under rules at Chepstow in October and time may tell he faced a very stiff task up against Dan Skelton’s The New Lion.
There is still a chance Neil Mulholland’s Double Powerful is a step ahead of the handicapper despite winning six on the bounce.
He attempts to make it seven in the Howden Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle – but this is a hot race for its type and the value call has to be to take him on.
One who we certainly have not seen the best of yet is Nicky Henderson’s East India Express.
He lost little in defeat when second to Making Headway off level weights in February and on his only other outing he departed at halfway at the Punchestown Festival.
The fact Henderson even sent him over for that suggests he thinks he is a bit better than a mark of 123 and he is the chosen runner of a handful of entries from the powerful yard.
His stablemate Iberico Lord takes another step in his education over fences in the Howden Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase.
While hardly flawless on his chasing debut, his jumping did warm up in the home straight and the quicker he went the better it got.
He won the Betfair Hurdle last season beating L’Eau Du Sud, who is now a Grade One winner over fences yet Iberico Lord was too strong for him giving him 5lb.
Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero continue to make waves and Dazzlelikethis looks another sure-fire winner in the Richard Winterton Auctioneers Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Uttoxeter.
She was second behind a race-fit Irish-trained runner on her rules debut at Carlisle and should know more about the game now.
They have every chance of doubling up with Pats Dream who bids for a hat-trick in the Ashley Waller Auctioneers Novices’ Handicap Chase.
Some decent sprinters are lining up in the Boost Your Acca-Fenwa With BetUK Handicap at Southwell, where Sugar Hill Babe is a filly on the up and they are usually worth sticking with.
Fresh from his exploits in Hong Kong, Marco Botti switches his sights to the Weekly Free Bets With BetMGM Extra Maiden Stakes at Wolverhampton with Perfect Life, having caught the eye when third on debut.
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