Andrew McLaren has Friday's best bets from around the tracks with the Nap in action up at Newcastle.
NINE TENTHS was unlucky not to beat the reopposing Shades Of Summer here in January and is 8lb better off with that rival now despite winning a Listed race last time, and that’s before you take into account her riders’ 7lb claim.
Young Jack Enright knows her well having been on board for her impressive performance at Wolverhampton in December and it’ll be disappointing if she can’t win this before tackling pattern races back on the turf over the summer.
The excellent Daniel & Claire Kubler team look to have found the key to AL RUFAA having joined the yard from Charlie Fellowes last year and he still looks a well-handicapped horse after shaping well behind the reopposing Wadacre Gomez last time.
He's always going to be something of a hostage to fortune given his hold up style but a strongly run race looks likely here (Timeform pace forecast ‘very strong’) which will help and he should go close if the gaps appear at the right time.
CALCULATE has quickly racked up three runs this year meaning he’s now qualified for handicaps and he looks to have been allotted a lenient opening mark having contested a slowly-run race over a mile last time which won’t have played to his strengths.
There should be loads more to come from this Cracksman colt now stepping up in trip and Irish champion jockey Colin Keane is an eye-catching booking in the royal silks.
He was pulled up last time but if you can forgive that too bad to be true run, GOSHHOWPOSH looks to have a smashing chance in the Challenger Stayers Hurdle Series Final Handicap Hurdle.
He still looks well handicapped from a mark of 127 based on his run in one of the hottest handicap hurdles of the season over this C&D in November where he looked booked for fourth before unseating his rider at the last, and I don’t think we’ve seen the best of him yet having just his seventh career start.
He can get a bit behind in his races and his jumping could do with sharpening up so hopefully the fitting of first-time blinkers will help him focus, and this dour stayer should thrive coming off a strong pace on testing ground.
The potential is there for a pace collapse in the Scottish Sprint Cup at Musselburgh with Fine Wine, Glorious Angel, Looking For Lynda and Silky Wilkie all likely to be vying for the early lead, so this could set up for the closers and the eye is drawn to C&D winner ZARZYNI.
His win here in April 2022 is actually the last time he tasted victory, but he finds himself 17lb lower in the handicap now and he ran his best race for ages at Newcastle last time. He is obviously very well handicapped if that can be the catalyst to rediscover his mojo and if they go too hard in front, he’ll be finishing fast and late.
ENEMY AT THE GATE is yet to win in 11 starts over hurdles but he’s not done a lot wrong in that time and this extreme stamina test could be the key to shedding his maiden tag. This is just his second go over a trip in excess of three-miles and he shaped very much as though going back up in distance would be in his favour when third here last time over an inadequate trip.
KING OF SPEED was narrowly beaten by Egoiste here a couple of weeks ago but he should be able to turn the tables on that rival having been stuck widest of all around the home turn and still only beaten a nose. He tops the Timeform ratings and this course and distance winner should go close granted a better trip this time.
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