Horse Racing tips: Frank Hickey's Friday 5 to thrive across the tracks

Ascot 12.20 – Chantry House

Only a small field, but a nice little novice chase where Chantry House is one that looks like he could make his mark at the highest level over fences this season. He is a former ‘point’ winner and won his first four starts under rules in impressive fashion before an excellent third in the Supreme Novices Hurdle behind Shishkin & Abacadabras.

He shaped like two miles was sharp enough for him and he will end up over two and a half miles plus as the season progresses.

He is a very exciting prospect.

Ascot 13.30 – Amarillo Sky

Amarillo Sky faces three previous winners in Metier, Nimix De Juilley & Gipsy De Choisel, but gets 5lbs off them and he has race fitness on his side. Amarillo Sky is a ‘point’ winner who made his rules debut in a what looked a really nice novice hurdle at Newbury and shaped beautifully when finishing fourth.

The race developed into a little bit of a sprint which wouldn’t haven’t suited him and the Colin Tizzard yard were in the middle of a really quiet spell. The stable is in much better form now and the second, Soaring Glory, was excellent in bumpers and had won nicely on his hurdles debut.

The winner, Dusart, is a full brother to Simonsig and was impressive and could easily be graded class. With the run under his belt and the yard in much better form, Amarillo Sky could be the value to upset the last time out winners.

Ascot 14.05 – Red Risk

Red Risk has only had three starts since joining Paul Nicholls but was quite impressive when getting off the mark at the second attempt for the yard at Ludlow, where he easily won a handicap chase off a mark of 135. He made his reappearance at Market Rasen last month in a really decent handicap and shaped really nicely when third beaten just under six lengths.

I got the feeling that he would have appreciated easier ground and the ground should be more in his favour here and being a five-year-old, is open to plenty improvement.

Chepstow 14.50 – Out On The Tear

Enzo D’Airy will be tough to beat after he bolted up on his chase and handicap debut at Stratford last time. He is 5lbs well in under a penalty. I just can’t let Out On The Tear go unbacked and perhaps an each-way play against the favourite is the way to go.

Out On The Tear won two of his five handicap hurdles last season, at Uttoxeter off 92 and Doncaster off 101. In between those wins, he was second at Uttoxeter to Main Fact, who was running off 111 that day – but is now rated 147. The third bolted up on his next start before being disqualified and the fourth won two starts later. Out On The Tear is now 11lbs higher than Uttoxeter but he did shape really nicely on his reappearance at Huntingdon on good ground.

The testing ground will be far more in his favour and if he takes to chasing, is definitely capable of running a big race.

Gowran Park 15.07 – Exit To The West

This Beginners Chase is limited to horses that have a hurdles rating no higher than 102 and Napoleon Blue would look in a strong position to get off the mark over fences considering his chase rating is 116.

He is worth opposing though with Exit To The West for Robert Tyner. She had looked quite moderate over hurdles when running in late 2018-early 2019, but had a break and had a run in a point to point, where she won, and that appeared to really boost her confidence. She returned under rules at Listowel in late September in a handicap hurdle and bolted up off a mark of 92.

Her revised rating in that sphere is 102, so she just about qualifies for this race. A ‘point’ winner on testing ground, she could well improve now for the switch to fences.

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