There is some competitive action in Britain on Friday and Racing Post tipster Graeme Rodway returns to mark your card with his five best bets from a busy afternoon of racing.
3.00 Lingfield
Baldomero @ 10/3
1pt win
3.10 Doncaster
Flying Verse @ 12/1
1pt win
4.00 Newbury
Hurricane Harvey @ 6/1
1pt win
4.20 Doncaster
Mongol Emperor @ 5/2
1pt win
4.30 Newbury
Gallic Geordie @ 15/8
1pt win
Back Baldomero on his return to Lingfield
The 6f handicap (3.00) at Lingfield looks like a good opportunity for BALDOMERO to bounce back to form following a good run at the course last time when he was dropped back to 7f.
Baldomero has done most of his racing over further than that trip but he looked well suited by the shorter distance when second behind the in-form Wyvern last week.
The front two pulled a length and a quarter clear of third-placed Lord Rapscallion, who is well handicapped.
The selection is able to run off a 2lb lower mark here and might have even more to offer now that he drops another furlong in trip for shrewd connections.
There should be a good pace here and, with that to bring his stamina into play, Baldomero should run well.
Flying Verse to hit the right note
The 3m conditional jockeys’ veterans’ handicap chase (3.10) at Doncaster looks like a good opportunity for FLYING VERSE to take advantage of a mark that is 2lb lower than for his last win in November.
That was Flying Verse’s ninth career victory and all of his wins have come on good ground, so he is well suited by conditions. He proved that when third at Southwell two runs ago.
Flying Verse was beaten only four lengths into third on that occasion, which proved he still retains his ability at the age of 11, and it’s worth forgiving him a poor run at Newcastle last time.
He was heavily backed that day but didn’t show his best form and is better than that.
Ned Fox is one of the better conditional riders and, with him claiming 3lb, Flying Verse might be capable of adding yet another win to what is already an impressive career tally.
Hurricane Harvey can blow rivals away
HURRICANE HARVEY has done well this season since returning to hurdles and he can make it three victories from his last four outings in the 3m handicap hurdle (4.00) at Newbury.
The selection is well suited by good ground and he followed wins at Uttoxeter and Ludlow with a rallying fifth at Musselburgh last time out.
He just didn’t look quick enough to cope with the tight turns at the Scottish venue that day, but still kept on nicely in the closing stages.
Hurricane Harvey has shown most of his best form on galloping tracks like this and one of his best runs came at Newbury. The return here should suit and he can bounce back to form.
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Mongol Emperor looks set to take control
The 2m3f handicap chase (4.20) at Doncaster doesn’t look the strongest race ever run at the track and MONGOL EMPEROR should be capable of breaking his chase maiden at the sixth attempt.
The Neil Mulholland-trained gelding ran the best race of his career on good ground when fourth at Cheltenham in April last year and he has shown promise over fences this season.
He twice finished fourth in stronger races than this at Wetherby and Newbury at the end of last year and went on to take third in a 2m handicap chase at Ffos Las in January.
He appeared to take a step backwards last time out at Wincanton when only fourth, but that form was franked when the third Midnight Midge won at that same track this week and Mongol Emperor might be capable of bouncing back following a 5lb drop in the weights.
Gallic Geordie set for another success
GALLIC GEORDIE has been unfortunate not to get his head in front this season, but he should be capable of putting that right by landing the the 2m1/2f handicap chase (4.30) at Newbury.
He has finished second on two of his last three starts and was travelling as well as anything when falling at the second-last fence at Lingfield in between.
His latest runner-up effort came over course and distance in December and he seems to like it here - he is a winner at the track.
The handicapper has nudged Gallic Geordie up 2lb, but this doesn’t look as strong as the race in which he was beaten last time and it will be a surprise if he doesn’t go one better.
