Wissahickon is a star attraction on Good Friday
Wissahickon is a star attraction on Good Friday

Free horse racing selections for Friday April 19


Wissahickon can live up to his billing as the star turn at Lingfield on Good Friday, according to Nick Robson.

Nap: Wissahickon (4.15 Lingfield)

Next Best: Kachy (3.05 Lingfield)

Wissahickon is unopposable in the Betway Easter Classic on All-Weather Championships Finals Day at Lingfield.

John Gosden's chestnut is far from a one-trick pony, having won the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket last season.

Since then he has proved himself a very smart performer on the Polytrack, winning a Listed race, the Winter Derby Trial and the Winter Derby itself.

The four-year-old, owned by American George Strawbridge, is likely to be sent to the States at some point in the future and having won eight of his 10 races already he is building up a nice page.

He is well clear of all his rivals on official ratings and he will have to run a long way below form - or find trouble in running - to get beaten.

Tom Dascombe's Kachy is another who looks impossible to go against in the Betway All-Weather Sprint.

He has looked untouchable in his two races this winter, winning by six lengths at Wolverhampton on Boxing Day before setting a new course record at Lingfield in February.

While he is a very capable sprinter on turf - as he showed when only a neck behind Battaash in the Temple Stakes - he seems better going round a bend, which was evidenced by a nine-length win at Chester last May.

Andrew Balding has his string in great form at this early stage of the season, which makes Crossing The Line of interest in the Fillies' And Mares' Championship.

Her penultimate effort when last of seven at Wolverhampton was clearly not her true running as she had won her previous three races and got back to winning ways last time out.

She looks a solid proposition.

William Haggas always tends to target this meeting and his Deputise appears a likely type in the Ladbrokes 3 Year Old Championship.

He has won his last two in the style of an improver and may be less exposed than most.

Keyser Soze is really delivering on his early promise - having won his last three for Richard Spencer - and the way he powered home last time over seven furlongs suggested the step up in trip for the Sun Racing All-Weather Mile would be within his compass.

Sky Bet are Top Price On Every Runner
Sky Bet are Top Price On Every Runner

There is a really interesting race at Newcastle, too, where Bryan Smart's Antagonize can maintain his unbeaten record in the Ladbrokes Burradon Stakes.

It spoke volumes for his ability that he was able to win on debut despite looking very green, and he still looked a little bit clueless when defying a penalty at Redcar.

Smart has left him in the 2000 Guineas and while that may prove a step too far, there is a chance he could shock some of the big southern yards in the feature at Gosforth Park.

While the Burradon is worth £100,000, there is also £85,000 up for grabs in the Betway Live Casino Handicap.

The mile and a half contest sees the return of Mark Johnston's Baghdad, who has not been seen since winning the King George V Stakes.

He reappears off an 8lb higher mark, but had subsequent Melbourne Cup winner Cross Counter back in fourth when striking Royal Ascot gold, so the form is red-hot.

The second, Corgi, is now 10lb higher and the third, First Eleven, is now 13lb higher having won a £100,000 handicap at Ascot.

Johnston rarely leaves much to work on fitness-wise, so Baghdad is of huge interest on his return to action.

There is even a £50,000 contest at Bath - the Value Rater Racing Club Is Free Handicap - in which Johnston's Living Legend gets the nod.

Sporting Life tips

BATH: 1.50 Global Prospector, 2.20 Queens Road, 2.55 Living Legend, 3.30 Petrus, 4.05 One Last Night, 4.35 Cry Wolf, 5.05 Acclaim The Nation.

LINGFIELD: 1.30 Breathless Times, 2.00 Amade, 2.30 Crossing The Line, 3.05 Kachy, 3.40 Deputise, 4.15 WISSAHICKON (NAP), 4.45 Keyser Soze.

NEWCASTLE: 1.40 Mighty Spirit, 2.10 Exalted Angel, 2.45 Chosen World, 3.20 Antagonize, 3.55 Baghdad, 4.25 Smarter, 4.55 Key To Power.

DOUBLE: Wissahickon and Kachy

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