Matt Brocklebank and Ben Linfoot combine for Friday's best bets with the Nap in action at Ffos Las.
Friday selections
LADY HENRIETTA – 14:50 Ffos Las (NAP)
Ben Pauling can strike with LADY HENRIETTA in Friday's TigerBet.co.uk Extra Places Paid Handicap Hurdle at Ffos Las. Pauling has a very good record when he travels to Ffos Las, a 26% strike-rate all in, and this mare ran well at the Welsh track last time out when a rallying third over 2m6f in heavy conditions. Indeed, she had previously won at Leicester in heavy, so the ground is in her favour and the way she stayed on last time, combined with a pedigree befitting of a stayer, suggests that improvement could well be forthcoming now she goes out to three miles for the first time with Sean Bowen booked. (BL)
KING OF YORK – 13:32 Southwell
Trainer Scott Dixon had a couple of Wolverhampton winners on Monday with SPs of 20/1 and 4/1, while he’s also seen yard representatives go close at 28/1 and 66/1 in the past week or so. The local trainer has a couple of runners at Southwell and both Shaw Park and KING OF YORK hold each-way claims in their respective races. They both lack a recent run but are previous course winners, with preference for King Of York as he looks like getting the race run to suit in the mile handicap at 13:42, whereas his stablemate is a front-runner and appears to have loads of competition for the lead in the seven-furlong event later on the card. King Of York has won off a 4lb higher mark here in the past and, having been running consistently well last spring when most recently in action, looks capable of surprising a few of these less exposed types if ready to roll after the layoff. Stable form suggests it’s worth paying to find out. (MB)
ZERO TOLERANCE – 13:40 Catterick
ZERO TOLERANCE ran well at Catterick last time and he should enjoy going back out in trip in the Jumps Look Better on Racing TV Handicap Chase at the same track. Evan Williams’ horse is 0 from 7 over fences but has run many good races in defeat as his trainer has tried to find the right track and trip for him. With three seconds to his name he’s clearly competitive off this sort of mark and after running over three miles a couple of times he dropped right back to two miles at this track on his latest start when beaten just a length in third. 2m3f and a bit here could be just the ticket. (BL)
CHARLOTTE CORDAY – 19:00 Wolverhampton
With race-fitness, winning course form and a favourable-looking pace scenario, there’s every reason to believe CHARLOTTE CORDAY can give a very good account back at Wolverhampton. The daughter of Cracksman struck gold here on handicap debut in November (beating the reopposing Phantom Watch in the process) before looking to find Lingfield’s tight twists and turns just a touch too sharp when bidding to follow up off this 4lb higher mark earlier in January. George Boughey’s Hardstyle has been really busy lately and Crockham Heath – seemingly the only other potential front-runner in the field – is expected to need middle-distances this season based on his pedigree, so if Harry Vigors can judge it nicely from stall four then Ed Walker’s filly might be back in business on a surface she clearly appreciates. (MB)
Saturday selections
MADE U BLUSH – 13:10 Musselburgh (NAP)
MADE U BLUSH had some fairly useful form on the Flat, winning her final start in that sphere before changing hands for 90,000 guineas and, though she fluffed her lines on her stable and hurdling debut, she looked very good at Doncaster last time.
She was much more professional that day, her jumping more polished and she readily cruised clear from the second-last without even coming off the bridle.
Admittedly, that probably wasn’t the deepest race, but she was levels above her rivals, and judged by her Flat form, there should be even more to come. She could hardly be in better hands, and she looks well in at the weights here with her handy sex allowance now taking on the boys for the first time in this sphere.
QUEENIE ST CLAIR – 12:30 Wetherby
Nick Schofield has made a good start to his training career, and he improved QUEENIE ST CLAIR at the first attempt as she opened her account in a handicap at Wincanton on Boxing Day following her move from Ireland.
Several had a chance entering the straight that day, but Queenie St Clair finished best off all from off the pace, coming with a strong challenge on the run-in to nab the runner-up close home.
That performance was backed up by a solid timefigure for the grade and, now back in what looks a thin mares’ novices’ hurdle, she’s strongly expected to follow up.
VICE PRESIDENT – 15:20 Lingfield
VICE PRESIDENT has an excellent pedigree, a brother to Library who finished third in the Oaks, while his dam was a half-sister to US Army Ranger, who finished runner-up in the Derby.
His form is some way below that level, but he looks interesting now moving back up to two miles having shaped very well on his sole start at this trip at Kempton two starts back.
Vice President was too free that day in cheekpieces, but he wasn’t seen to best effect on that occasion, either, held up in a race where the winner set slow fractions and quickened off the lead.
He found the significant drop in trip to a mile and a quarter against him in a first-time hood at Chelmsford last time, but he should be much happier back at this distance, especially round this sharp track.
KALA CONTI – 14:40 Sandown
Kitzbuhel was impressive in the Kauto Star at Kempton on Boxing Day and should have no problem with the drop back in trip, but KALA CONTI ran to a similar level when routing her opposition in a Grade 2 over two miles at Cork last month and looks a bet at the prices.
She had experience and a fitness edge over the odds-on favourite – who has since won with any amount in hand – but she drew clear from the second-last in the style of a high-class mare.
Kala Conti is already proven over this far, goes well in testing conditions, and gets a very handy 7lb sex allowance now taking on the boys, while there should be plenty more to come from her, too.
LORD CAPULET – 19:25 Newcastle
The Kevin Ryan-trained LORD CAPULET had fallen down the weights, but bounced back to his best form to take advantage of a career-low mark and open his account over this course and distance three weeks ago, and he has a good chance of following up.
He appeared to be liberated by the return to front-running tactics, settling better than he had previously and he found plenty for pressure back down in trip. There’s a good chance he’ll be able to lead again in this field and a subsequent 3lb rise looks fair given that form looks solid.
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2025-26 winners (Naps competition Oct 19 - Apr 25)
- Eupator 11/8
- Kazar Forez 5/6
- Newton Tornado 9/2
- Ladronne 6/4
- Bel Ombre 85/40
- Morrophore 6/5
- Lewisham Grove 9/4
- Maximising 15/2
- Big Zouk 11/8 (NAP)
- Silver Thorn 3/1
- Merrimack 13/8 (NAP)
- My Champion 11/4
- Fasol 4/1
- Nebras 7/2
- Mapledurham 5/2
- Soldierofthestorm 9/4
- Lake Como 11/10
- Ballymackie 5/6 (NAP)
- Kruger Park 3/1
- Indeevar Blue 9/2
- Kitzbuhel 13/8
- Gazette Bourgeoise 7/2
- Supreme Malinas 7/2
- Heart Over Head 4/1
- Saint Cyr De Pail 7/2
- Westcombe 7/4
- Intervention 7/2
- One Big Bang 8/11
- Zryan 4/1
- David's Well 6/4 (NAP)
- Atreides 5/4
- Salver 6/4 (NAP)
- Castanea Breeze 3/1
- Ribble Vibe 6/4
- Medieval Gold 6/5
- Fierce Warrior 11/10
- Mambonumberfive 5/2 (NAP)
- Bibendum 85/40
- Seasmoke 10/3
- Teardrops 2/1
- Secret Vino 11/2
- Blenkinsop 7/4 (NAP)
- Roaring Conquest 6/4
- Molto Bene 7/4
- Nocte Volatus 11/4
- Sparkling Duke 9/2
- Chuggy 11/10
- Germanic 3/1
- Special John evens
- Fat Harry 5/4 (NAP)
- Formel Park 3/1 (NAP)
- Sixmilebridge 6/4 (NAP)
- On The Go 2/1 (NAP)
- Ikarak 13/8
- Clearpoint 3/1
- Bahadur 2/1 (NAP)
- L'Empire Vert 3/1 (NAP)
- Without Compromise 2/1
- Solarize 3/1
- Hartington 7/1
- Bloodsweatandtyres 9/2
- Pep Talking 13/2
- Tigers Moon 8/11
- Sea Poetry 2/1
- Fine Interview 7/2
- American Flight 7/1 (NAP)
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