David Massey and Rory Delargy look ahead to Friday's action including the high-profile Friday Night Live fare from Southwell.
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Racing betting tips: Friday February 20
1pt win Arctic Stream in the 16:35 Warwick at 15/2 (General) - min 7/1
1pt win Angel Hunter in the 19:00 Southwell at 10/1 (General) - take no lower
1pt e.w. Daddy Long Legs in the 19:30 Southwell at 6/1 (William Hill) - min 5/1
15:05 Warwick
With Venetia having refound the training manual in the kitchen draw, resulting in a hatful of winners for the Ross-On-Wye handler, Alcedo - who was actually one of those that was running well, even in her poor spell - is going to be very popular here, but after Joker De Mai’s latest effort at Ludlow, a big step back in the right direction, I thought I’d want to be with him, as long as conditions were fine for him.
A 3¾ length third to the fast-improving Rodney would read well enough in any case, but he lost all that ground and more as Pepe Le Moko went lame mid-race and as Ciaran Gethings pulled him up, badly hampering Joker De Mai in the process.
So an even better effort than it first appears, and from the same mark and with the heavy ground no problem (a record of 222 according to Timeform goings) he can gain compensation.
16:35 Warwick
Can’t be too many 0-100 handicaps where No 3 on the racecard is rated just 75, but here we are, ladies and gentlemen.
Oh, auld Delargy isn’t going to like this, but if there’s ever a time to give ARCTIC STREAM a go it’s surely here; a desperately weak event, deep ground and finally more a trip for this mare, who is bred to want this three miles as a bare minimum.
She got well behind at Lingfield last time before merely plugging on as others gave up the ghost to finish a distant sixth and she’ll need to do a lot better than that, but this is just her second chase start so it isn’t beyond the realms of possibility that she does.
19:00 Southwell
ANGEL HUNTER has a rather hit-and-miss profile but while he’s been disappointing onn Polytrack on his last two starts, he has raced only once on Tapeta, and that came when sharing the spoils in a 7f handicap here in October.
Like this contest, that was a 0-90 and Angel Hunter kept on strongly to grab a share of victory on the line. He’s proven over 1m and will appreciate the return to this track, while the fitting of blinkers is a statistical positive.
Richard Hannon has utilised first-time blinkers just seven times in the last nine months, but three of the horses concerned have won, at odds of 3/1, 11/2 and 11/1 for a decent profit.
Looking at the long term, this has also been a profitable ploy, with 22 winners from 142 runners producing a profit of £1152 to a £10 stake at SP.
Backing the sire’s offspring in first-time blinkers is also profitable as is simply backing Sean Levey (9 wins from 36 rides - £444.70 profit to £10) on his rides at this venue.
The selection is a classy handicapper on his day and makes plenty of appeal at the prices given he’s just 1lb above his last winning mark.
19:30 Southwell
All eyes here will be on Constitution Hill and I think it’s important to point out that connections will really want to win this race with a horse whose issue – according to those closest to him – is a lack of confidence. Others may think that a clear round is what Nicky Henderson is after and that’s what they are avoiding hurdles in his Cheltenham prep, but I don’t buy that, as a racecourse gallop would be sufficient in that regard.
The other thing to consider is the possibility that Constitution Hill will be considered for a Flat campaign and this race will give an indication whether he can win Group races on the level. Again, it would be fairly pointless campaigning a Champion Hurdle winner on the Flat unless he was capable of winning a Group or Listed race at least and therefore it’s almost certain that victory is the only acceptable result tonight. If you want to back him on that basis then I’d not put you off, but I’d struggle to part with any cash on him at present.
If you want to oppose him, there are two horses to consider, with DADDY LONG LEGS perhaps the most appealing despite the fact he was outpaced on his Flat debut at Ballinrobe. He’s by a sire in Almanzor whose offspring do well at Southwell and the mile and a half trip at the Rolleston track takes plenty of getting, so I don’t see him being run off his feet this time. Patrick Mullins said that he wasn’t travelling for the Nottinghamshire air, and there is little doubt that connections would also love to see him win.
The other angle on breeding is that offspring of Zarak also pay to follow on Southwell’s Tapeta and Square Necker, a Dundalk winner for Robson de Aguiar, is expected to go well on his first start for Kevin Philippart de Foy. Once again, connections of this one will not mind putting one over on the establishment and he’s sure to be tuned up for the race.
Preview posted at 09:55 GMT on 20/02/26
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