15 minutes Here are Friday's horse racing tips from meetings at Ascot, Thirsk, Uttoxeter, Chepstow and York.
For today's horse racing tips I have gone in search for some real value. Targeting selections available at high odds, we only need one of these to land to potentially turn a profit.
3:00 Ascot
John Guest Racing Brown Jack Handicap (GBBPlus Race)
BLINDEDBYTHELIGHTS - 4/1
Blindedbythelights has been knocking firmly on the door this season and can gain a deserved success in this competitive 2m handicap. A strong traveller with form figures of 1222422 in handicaps, he was narrowly denied at Chelmsford last time under Dylan Hogan and showed similar tenacity over 1m6f at Newmarket prior to that. The cheekpieces are retained and the extra furlong here should be no issue given how well he sees out his races. The 2lbs rise doesn’t look harsh and he’s partnered again by Hogan, who knows him well.
Many Men is a major threat, getting the three-year-old weight-for-age allowance and stepping up to two miles for the first time. He’s been progressive in handicaps at middle distances and his pedigree suggests stamina won’t be a problem. He lacked the gears in a hot three-year-old handicap last time but this switch to taking on older horses could be ideal. Contacto has solid turf handicap form figures (12124) and wasn’t disgraced in the Northumberland Vase on the AW, but he may be slightly vulnerable to improvers now off 86. Fireblade has been consistent for his new yard and the step up to two miles looks worth trying, but his finishing effort has looked a touch short at times and stamina remains a question. Caprelo is still unexposed at this trip and shaped with promise in the Northumberland Vase too, while Tailorman had excuses at Chester but is now tackling a stronger race from a high mark. Blazeon Five is a two-time course and distance winner but was absent for over 18 months and hasn’t yet suggested she retains her former ability.
Verdict: BLINDEDBYTHELIGHTS has the most solid profile and deserves to get his head back in front having run well in similar company this summer. Many Men looks the biggest threat if staying the trip, with Contacto and Fireblade next best.
4:00 Thirsk
National Federation Of Roofing Contractors Fillies' Handicap
RAPIDO GIRL - 15/2
Rapido Girl hasn’t managed to get her head in front in handicap company yet, but she’s been a consistent type at this level and could be ready to strike with first-time cheekpieces applied. She shaped better than the result suggests when a staying-on fourth over this trip at Leicester two starts ago and last time’s effort at Carlisle can be overlooked as she was caught wide and found the drop back to 5f too sharp. Back up to 6f, she’s drawn to track the pace and gets the experienced Luke Morris booked for the first time, which looks a notable move.
Annie Edson Taylor rates a key danger. She was well-backed when third at Ayr on Monday and now runs under the same mark. Still 10lbs below her Irish peak, she’s clearly in form and represents a yard whose runners tend to hold it well. Stall 9 isn’t ideal, but her rider should be able to drop in. One Of Our Own has been ultra-consistent of late and was a luckless third at Pontefract last Friday. She’s well treated running under a mark of 63 (goes up 1lb from tomorrow), but may need fast ground to show her best and any rain would count against her. Miss Rainbow has had a productive summer and continues to run well off higher marks, though her recent Catterick effort suggested the handicapper may now have her. Purple Martini and Glory Hyde are in similar boats, consistent, but needing a career-best to land this. Fair Call is lightly raced and shaped with minor promise over 5f. She could step forward up to 6f, while Indy’s Angel returns to the trip of her sole win and is another dark horse.
Verdict: RAPIDO GIRL gets a confident vote to shed her maiden tag with cheekpieces on and a return to a more suitable trip. Annie Edson Taylor and One Of Our Own bring rock-solid recent form and rate the main threats.
4:10 Ascot
MISTER MOJITO - 14/1
Mister Mojito is worth chancing at a price in this open 7f handicap. Since undergoing gelding and wind operations last year, he's racked up three wins from six starts and shaped better than the bare result when seventh at Newmarket last time, where he met trouble in running. That was a deeper race than this and granted a clearer passage, he could easily bounce back off a workable mark of 75. His Yarmouth win in May was smartly executed and Adam Farragher’s 3lbs claim helps offset top-end weight.
Thurso is respected and arrives in fine form, having won two of his last three since being gelded. Both wins came over 6f, but he shaped like a step back up to 7f would suit and he remains on the upgrade for a yard that excels with three-year-olds in handicaps. Stratocracy is another solid option. He’s been a model of consistency this year and gained reward for a string of good runs when scoring at Newbury under Rossa Ryan. That form has substance and the cheekpieces remain on. War Howl landed a Doncaster handicap with authority last time and could go on again, while Arantes Nascimento is due a win after several near-misses this season and now gets Tom Marquand in the saddle. Mr Ubiquitous and Dannick have been admirably consistent, though the former may be on a tough enough mark now and the latter still awaits a breakthrough win.
Verdict: MISTER MOJITO was better than the result last time and looks ready to strike again at a nice price if getting luck in running. Thurso is a major player up in trip, with Stratocracy and War Howl completing the shortlist in a competitive heat.
4:23 Uttoxeter
Boots Opticians Uttoxeter Handicap Hurdle
CALLIN BATON ROUGE - 10/1
Callin Baton Rouge is worth another chance back at her optimum trip and track, having shaped well when winning over course and distance just last month. She travelled strongly that day and pulled away readily, suggesting there’s still more to come from this lightly raced mare. A 6lbs rise is manageable and her below-par effort over 2m last time can be forgiven as that was a tactical race that didn’t suit and she looked outpaced rather than outclassed. Back up in trip and with James Bowen retained, she looks primed to bounce back.
Rockola is feared after forging clear at Worcester in a race that’s working out well. He’s now won three of his nine hurdles starts and doesn’t look overburdened by a 5lbs rise. However, his best form has come on slightly softer going and he might be vulnerable on quicker ground. Lahinch Wave was second to Rockola at Worcester and remains open to improvement. She travelled well that day and looks the type to appreciate this quicker surface, with the form of her Chepstow third (behind a well-treated winner) also holding up. Doc McCoy arrives in top form, having won three times this spring before finishing runner-up at Stratford. He’s consistent, likes to race prominently and could easily go close again, though he’s now creeping up the weights. Luckie Seven is a wildcard. Lightly raced and unbeaten in two novice starts last summer, he returns from a long break and retains scope from a mark of 115. If he’s tuned up, he’s capable of being involved, but fitness has to be taken on trust.
Verdict: CALLIN BATON ROUGE looked a mare on the up when scoring here last month and can return to winning ways back over her preferred trip. Rockola and Lahinch Wave are closely matched and both rate key threats, while Doc McCoy remains in top form and shouldn’t be far away.
5:15 Chepstow
Robert Stephens Castle Farm Racing Club Handicap (Chepstow Mile Series Qualifier)
ROMANOVICH - 11/2
Romanovich returns to his favoured C&D and looks poised to go well under conditions that clearly suit. A three-time course-and-distance winner, he got the better of Ashford Hill here in May off 2lbs lower and his two subsequent runs over a mile, while not spectacular, were respectable efforts in stronger races. Now back at his optimum trip and with William Carson taking over again, he looks set to mount a bold bid from a handy draw.
Dark Sun is feared most. She ran better than the bare result at Brighton last time where her saddle slipped mid-race and had previously shaped well in a pair of Lingfield handicaps. There’s enough to suggest a win is close, especially as she remains unexposed on turf. Soi Dao is reliable at this level and ran with credit when third over a mile here a fortnight ago. She’s yet to score over 7f but the way she’s been finishing her races suggests she’ll be staying on strongly again. Johnjay heads the market and was a ready winner at Brighton in May, but was only fifth last time at Ffos Las in a messy race that began with a flag start. He’s clearly capable, but not one to fully rely on. Ashford Hill could offer each-way value again. She wasn’t far behind Romanovich here in May and has run respectably since. A win might be stretching it, but place claims are obvious. Autumn Rose and Classy Clarets are both capable on their day but arrive with something to prove after poor recent efforts. The latter in particular is prone to blowing the start, which can be costly over this trip.
Verdict: ROMANOVICH thrives at Chepstow and is taken to strike again now back at his favoured 7f trip. Dark Sun is the main danger after an unlucky effort last time, while Soi Dao and Ashford Hill should be in the mix if running to their recent levels.
5:30 York
MERESIDE DIVA - 11/1
Mereside Diva is one of the more interesting runners in this stacked 22-runner sprint handicap and looks set to outrun her odds. The five-time turf winner has been kept in decent company this season and caught the eye over this C&D two starts ago when finishing a strong third in a similarly competitive field. That effort came off today’s mark of 80 and while she couldn’t build on it last time at Haydock, she was posted wide and didn't get the clearest run. She’s drawn slightly better this time in stall 10, has proven course form and the stable has been quietly going well.
Commander Of Life is the one to beat on recent form. He got the better of Riot at Doncaster two weeks ago and remains well treated, rising just 2lbs for that win. With Oisin Murphy booked again and pace likely to suit, he looks the obvious danger. Riot was a close second in that same Doncaster race and is a former C&D winner, so shouldn't be far away again if granted a smooth passage. Daring Legend has been knocking on the door and is back to the same mark as his last win here in July 2024. He’s ultra-consistent and may be better suited to drying conditions. Havana Prince is in the form of his life and was only just denied at Haydock last time. He’s well drawn and must be shortlisted, while Ormolulu had excuses here last time and is capable of a bold show if getting the breaks. Sir Garfield is another who has been holding his form, though he might be a touch vulnerable off this mark. Yaaser, as ever, could run into a place if things fall right, but has a quick turnaround from a tough race at Ayr on Monday.
Verdict: Plenty with chances, but MERESIDE DIVA appeals at a decent price having shaped nicely over C&D last month. Commander Of Life and Riot set the form standard from Doncaster and look the main dangers, while Daring Legend is solid each-way material once more.
7:13 York
NOBLE CONSORT - 9/1
Noble Consort has been in superb form of late and looks ready to take the step up in class in his stride. Julie Camacho’s gelding has won four of his last six, including a tidy success at Doncaster last time out where he had more in hand than the narrow winning margin suggests. The handicapper has raised him 7lbs, but he’s progressing rapidly and has already proven himself in big-field handicaps. With conditions in his favour and Ryan Sexton back on board, he could have too many gears for these.
Juan Les Pins is undoubtedly a danger. His mark continues to slide and he’s had no luck in running on his last two outings, notably when finishing just behind Ingleby Archie here a fortnight ago. He’s a serious threat if things fall right but has become costly to follow. Ingleby Archie arrives in top form and has been running with credit over C&D, including a strong second last time behind Emperor Caradoc. He sets the standard for recent placed efforts, although stall 19 does him no favours in this big field. Winged Messenger is another Camacho runner going the right way, having landed a Doncaster sprint earlier this month. He steps up in trip and grade now, which asks a few new questions, but he's unexposed and gets Tudhope in the saddle. Showtime Mahomes is a big-field York sprint regular and landed a good prize at Carlisle last time. He’s gone up 6lbs but thrives in these conditions and is well drawn. Others worth noting include Emperor Caradoc, who made all last time but may find this tougher and Sugar Baby, who didn’t get the clearest run here last time but is handicapped to get involved again.
Verdict: The improving NOBLE CONSORT is a sprinter on the up and looks a solid play to defy a 7lbs rise and follow up his Doncaster success. Juan Les Pins is a huge danger if finally getting a clear run, while Ingleby Archie and Winged Messenger arrive in top form and should be in the mix once more.
8:10 Chepstow
3A's Caravan & Motorhome Classified Stakes
FACT OR FABLE - 8/1
Course specialist Fact Or Fable looks primed for another big run in this 0-50 classified, having run with real credit when fourth at Bath last week. He was only narrowly behind Eye Of The Water that day and now returns to his favoured Chepstow, where he’s a four-time winner, including a victory in this exact race 12 months ago. That recent effort came in a handicap, which gives him solid claims now dipping into weaker company. At double-figure odds, he’s a strong each-way proposition.
Scenario heads the betting after winning at Lingfield on Tuesday and although she carries a penalty, she retains the services of useful 5lbs claimer Elizabeth Gale. She shaped as if this longer trip might suit and is open to further progress, though quickish turnaround and the penalty are slight reservations. Eye Of The Water is ultra-consistent and while he’s on a long losing run, he always gives his running and was a neck ahead of Fact Or Fable last time. He’s 0-12 at Chepstow, however, which makes him opposable for win purposes. Too Much Trevor has been knocking on the door here in recent starts and shapes as though a first win isn’t far off. He’s quirky but clearly enjoys this track and might go close again if things fall right. My Brother Mike has won eight times on the AW and goes well fresh, but he's been off since March and has something to prove now back on turf. Hellavapace and Marisitta have run well in similar races recently and aren't ruled out entirely for place claims.
Verdict: FACT OR FABLE has a great record at Chepstow and returns to the scene of last year’s win in this race with a strong chance after a solid handicap fourth at Bath. Scenario is feared most under a good claimer, while Eye Of The Water and Too Much Trevor are consistent and shouldn’t be far away.
