Andrew Asquith has the best bets for Friday with the Nap in action at Royal Ascot.
Friday selections
OPPORTUNITY – 15:40 Royal Ascot (NAP)
It’s another red-hot renewal of the Duke of Edinburgh, but the horse who stands out for me is very much OPPORTUNITY, who built on the promise of his reappearance over this course and distance when winning with plenty in hand at Carlisle last month (replay below).
He was very strong in the market for what was a deep handicap that day and he got the job done with the minimum of fuss, ridden handier than usual and everything proving straightforward for him.
Opportunity was produced to lead around two furlongs out and readily moved clear in the final furlong in the style of a most progressive horse. The handicapper has reacted with an 8lb rise, which is fair, and he will likely be positioned in a handy position breaking from stall 1. His pedigree is an ongoing recommendation, while his three-year-old form is also strong, so there's plenty to like.
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THICKTHORN TOM – 14:40 Market Rasen
THICKTHORN TOM has left the impression on a few occasions now that he was lurking on an attractive mark and he finally put it all together at Newton Abbot last month.
He impressed with his jumping that day, tanking his way into the lead at the second-last and barely coming off the bridle to score with much more in hand than the official winning margin suggests, his jockey easing him on the run-in.
A subsequent 6lb rise in the weights looks lenient, and he makes plenty of appeal in his follow-up bid for an excellent yard that is showing no signs of slowing down.
ROOM FOURTEEN – 16:40 Redcar
This looks a good handicap with several top trainers represented, but James Fanshawe isn’t a regular at Redcar, and his ROOM FOURTEEN arrives with arguably the most progressive profile.
She improved on her turf and handicap debut fitted with a first-time hood when opening her account at Yarmouth in April, appreciating the step up to a mile and a quarter and displaying a terrific attitude.
Room Fourteen was unable to follow up at Ascot last time, but she pulled clear with another progressive filly, and she was forced to delay beginning her effort while the winner was winding up from the front. There should be even more improvement to come and she still looks a well-handicapped horse.
STEM – 19:45 Newmarket
STEM had some strong form in competitive handicaps last season, finishing runner-up to a couple of smart types from the William Haggas yard, and he shaped well in another strong race – which is working out well – on his return at Newbury in April.
He looked rusty on that occasion, like he’d come on for the run, but it just didn’t happen for him at Epsom earlier this month, looking all at sea on the idiosyncratic track.
The straight mile of Newmarket’s July Course should suit him much better and he still appeals as a horse who is on a lenient mark. This should be strongly run, which will suit, and he remains one to be positive about.
GET OUTTA HERE – 20:05 Goodwood
GET OUTTA HERE was steadily progressive in his qualifying runs, but he improved a chunk to open his account on handicap debut at Lingfield recently, and he did so in comfortable fashion.
That race wasn’t run at a true pace, so he is worth marking up given the ground he made up from the rear to beat an in-form rival, never subjected to more than hand riding to overcome a pace bias.
A subsequent 6lb rise in the weights isn’t excessive given his profile, especially as there should be plenty more improvement to come, and he makes plenty of appeal for a yard that does well at this course and also has an excellent record with similar types.
GALLUS NORMAN – 20:25 Ayr
There isn’t much pace in this race on paper and it looks an excellent opportunity for GALLUS NORMAN to resume winning ways with the likelihood of an easy lead.
He won with stacks in hand over two miles at Musselburgh two starts ago, stretching five and a half lengths clear under a hands-and-heels ride, and his jockey didn’t make enough use of him down in trip at Hamilton last time.
Gallus Norman was passed by speedier rivals in the closing stages that day, but should be much happier moving back up in trip, and there is still wiggle room in his mark with a professional jockey back on board.
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Recent winners (Naps competition from April 26)
- Quick Turn 5/2
- Alobayyah 11/4 (NAP)
- Solar Aclaim 7/2
- Rockafella Skank 4/5
- Optician 9/2 (NAP)
- Thunder Call 4/1 (NAP)
- Marching Mac 7/1
- Morbeh 9/4
- Amancio 2/1 (NAP)
- Shipbourne 6/5
- Royalty Bay 13/2
- Right And Exact 7/2
- King Of Berkshire 4/9
- Right And Exact 7/2
- King Of Berkshire 4/9 (NAP)
- Grey Soul 12/1
- Polka Blue Evens
- Charles Darnay 11/10
- Rocks Up Late 5/2
- Opportunity 11/10
- Sea Suite 3/1 (NAP)
- Sunray Shadow 5/4
- Goodwin Face 13/8
- Alice De Clare 2/7
- Vocito 5/4
- Callisto Dream 4/1
- Boiling Point 11/2 (NAP)
- Krissy 1/3
- King's School 5/1
- Mountain Cat 1/14
- Let's Be Frank 5/2 (NAP)
- Hand Of God 7/1
- We're Goosers 4/11 (NAP)
- Hengest (9/2)
- Matty's Getaway (7/1)
- Star Cast (7/2)
- Split Elevens (7/2)
- Thorneylands 2/1 (dead-heat)
- Cobbler's Boy 5/6
- Ashen 5/4 (NAP)
- Shadow King 6/4
- Quiet Resolve 20/1
- Filibustering 11/8
- Jeffery's Cross 6/1
- Lux Aeterna 11/2
- Magician Of Riga 3/1
- As Fast As Wind 4/7
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