Horse Racing Tips: Timeform's tasty plays at Newmarket on Friday

Friday’s Newmarket Tips

17:20 Greg The Great
17:55 Queen’s Reign
18:30 Clan Chieftain
19:05 Island Star
19:40 Cancan In The Rain
20:10 Jumbeau
20:45 Mary Of Modena

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.

17:20 Greg The Great

It’s not hard to have misgivings where GREG THE GREAT is concerned, given his yo-yo-like profile. That said, if able to bounce back from a low-key recent effort and reproduce something akin to the form he showed at Newbury last month, he will have every chance in this open-looking contest. Chief’s Will didn’t do much wrong returned to turf last time and he looks a threat, while Dashing Dick and Lost In Time both make some appeal from an each-way perspective.

17:55 Queen’s Reign

QUEEN’S REIGN cost 280,000 guineas as a yearling and she made a promising start to her career when third at Haydock last month. That was a steadily-run race and she was caught further back than ideal, doing well to finish as close as she did given the two her beat her were ridden much more prominently. Queen’s Reign also left the impression she would come on a fair bit for the experience and she sets the form standard. Alnoory Star, who should also come on for her encouraging debut, looks the main danger, though any market support for likely-looking newcomer Faayzah should also be noted.

18:30 Clan Chieftain

There is plenty of potential on show in what will be a race to follow in the coming weeks, but CLAN CHIEFTAIN was well backed and showed much improved form when opening his account on his return at Chepstow three weeks ago and should have even more to offer. Him and the runner-up pulled clear of the remainder and that form has been franked since, so he is taken to follow up under a penalty. However, Governor of India made a promising start at Haydock recently, and is the type to take a significant step forward now.

19:05 Island Star

ISLAND STAR showed much improved form when getting off the mark on his first start for Roger Varian at Kempton in April and that form hasn’t worked out badly. He has improved in defeat on his last two start in handicaps, unlucky to bump into some better handicapped types, and he really caught the eye with his finishing effort at Sandown last time. He ran on in the style of a horse who is sure to win more races on that occasion and, though he is 4 lb higher now, he still appeals as being a couple of steps ahead of the handicapper. Never Ending looks to have better days ahead of him and is feared most now going handicapping.

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19:40 Cancan In The Rain

CANCAN IN THE RAIN has gone close in both of his starts this season since joining Charlie Johnston, hitting the frame on both occasions and not beaten far at Goodwood last week. He won’t be long in opening his account for this yard and he makes a fair bit of appeal turned out quickly from the same mark. Buy The Dip is feared most on the back of his victory at Lingfield, with in-form pair Forest Demon and Edge of Ember also in the mix.

20:10 Jumbeau

This looks competitive, despite the small field. The vote goes to JUMBEAU, who shaped with plenty of encouragement on her first try at this trip and in a handicap on the Rowley Mile, and she is on a good mark given her exploits in listed company last season. Pastiche brings potential to this handicap debut and is feared most, albeit only marginally as the hat-trick seeking American Belle and Prepense are also appealing candidates.

20:45 Mary Of Modena

MARY OF MODENA looks the safest option. The ground was testing when she scored at Windsor in May but she won on a variety of ground-types in 2022 and her recent third on the all-weather at Lingfield was a decent effort. Next on the list is Annie Maher, who did pretty well all things considered on her first run in a handicap at Salisbury and she is now 3 lb lower in the weights. Four Adaay will also be a threat if she puts her best foot forward.