Ben Linfoot has the Friday best bets from around the tracks with the Nap running at Ascot.
ROYAL MER – 2.15 Chepstow to place (4 places)
BREAK MY SOUL – 2.40 Ascot to win
Nicky Henderson’s BREAK MY SOUL was a tad unfortunate not to win over this course and distance last time and she can go one better in the LK Bennett Autumn Collection Handicap Hurdle. Always up with the pace here three weeks ago, the horse she raced with, Stream Of Stars, dropped away to be beaten 17 lengths but she kept going all the way to the line before being edged out by a nose. Up 4lb, she’ll have to improve, but that was her first run in six months and progression is expected on ideal conditions.
JUST GINO is a relatively risky one in the Support The Injured Jockeys’ Fund Novices’ Handicap Chase at Catterick but he’s worth forgiving his debut chasing run at Kelso. He hit the third that day and low sun meant other fences were taken out so he was up against it from very early on. At least the handicapper dropped him 3lb and this former point-to-point winner is expected to apply himself much better here with the hood off.
David Pipe remains in good form and his ROYAL MER looks a likely type in the Noahs Ark Childrens Hospital Charity Handicap Chase at Chepstow. The grey son of Montmartre won five times over fences last season as he climbed from lowly grades and after 26mm of rain at Chepstow in the last week the Good to Soft, Soft (in places) on the chase track is coming right for him. He’s had a spin over hurdles to bring his fitness on and though a career-best is required he’s only six and could resume his improvement here.
HUMBLE SPARK appears ready for this return to 1m4f in the Stay In Control With BetUK Handicap at Newcastle. He found trouble in running on his return from two months off over 10 furlongs here last time but stayed on well once in the clear for third. That run should’ve teed him up for a race that his trainer Jim Goldie won last year with Bobby Shaftoe.
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