Horse Racing Tips: An 11/2 play leads the way in Matt Chapman’s Friday bets at Newmarket, York & Chepstow

Matt is keen on Juventus De Brion (15:15) as we dive into Friday's tellybox action at Newmarket, York & Chepstow.

By / Horse Racing Tips / 12 hours ago

Matt Chapman’s Friday ITV Racing Tips

13:30 York – Look Back Smiling (each-way)
13:47 Newmarket – Midnight Thunder
14:05 York – Amiloc
14:25 Newmarket – Flight
14:40 York – Master Builder
15:00 Newmarket – Witness Stand (each-way)
15:15 Chepstow – Juventus De Brion
15:35 Newmarket – Desert Flower
15:50 Chepstow – Certainly Red (each-way)
16:10 Newmarket – Goodwood Odyssey (each-way)

*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.

13:30 York – Look Back Smiling (each-way)

It’s a marathon on ITV Racing Friday, with races coming at you every second from Newmarket, York and Chepstow. The action starts here with a handicap over 1m. LOOK BACK SMILING is back down to 87 and has been dropped 2lb for a fair run in the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket when seventh on the far side which was favoured. The sixth in that contest, Ebt’s Guard hacked up at Ascot the other day. The Doncaster Spring Mile winner goes well with juice in the ground and should have an each-way chance for Gemma Tutty and Joanna Mason.

13:47 Newmarket – Midnight Thunder

Newmarket coverage begins here with the Group 3 Cornwallis Stakes for juveniles over 5f. The Strikin Viking has the best mark, but I’m unsure what else he has to give this term. MIDNIGHT THUNDER is the exciting one, having looked good at both Windsor and Yarmouth and coped well with soft ground on the former track should there be any juice around. This is the big test for the Kodiac offspring, who is out of a Dubawi mare and bred to be decent. Oisin Murphy rides for Saeed bin Suroor.

14:05 York – Amiloc

Now, a sale race for juveniles over 7f. If AMILOC goes on turf, he could easily blow this field apart. I love that he’s already a strong stayer and scored over a mile at Kempton last time. I guess the worry would be does he have the speed for this, but he looks a good prospect and his sire Postponed had some form with juice in the ground. Hector Crouch rides for Ralph Beckett.

14:25 Newmarket – Flight

Up in class for the Group 3 Oh So Sharp for youngsters over 7f. Cathedral might be magnificent, but I’m happy to stick with FLIGHT, who is back a furlong after finishing third to Desert Flower in the May Hill Stakes at Doncaster. Ollie Sangster holds the filly in high regard and she’s a big horse who should improve with time. Oisin Murphy is on top and will be hard to keep out the first three.

14:40 York – Master Builder

A handicap for 3yo over 1m6f. I love Who’s Glen, who ran a lot for me in the Racing League, but he’s gone up 12lb for a win at Chester, where his rivals ran desperate races and were barely moving. Soft ground should not be a problem for MASTER BUILDER, who impressed me at Haydock last time under William Buick, coming off a decent gallop in a competitive race – the third Hutchence has since hacked up at Ascot. A rise of 7lb might not stop him and he goes with juice. Danny Tudhope rides for David Menuisier.

15:00 Newmarket – Witness Stand (each-way)

Now the Group 2 Challenge Stakes over 7f. There’s not much between a few of these on ratings. Noble Dynasty was a fine winner of the Criterion here in June but then had a bad start when flopping at Glorious Goodwood. Royal Scotsman has been off the track but is classy when right. I’m happy to put up the improving WITNESS STAND each-way for the excellent Kieran Shoemark and Ton Clover. They were fine winners of a Listed race at Newbury last time and that followed a decent second to Qirat at Goodwood. More is needed here but he gets 2lb from Noble Dynasty and is in fine form. It might be hard to catch, so a place shout.

15:15 Chepstow – Juventus De Brion

Jumps racing from Chepstow include the Grade 2 Persian War Novices’ Hurdle, nearly 2m4f—a tough race to call. The one who might have more to give is maiden JUVENTUS DE BRION, who kept on well when last seen at Ascot in February, finishing third in a novice hurdle behind Pic Roc. That horse was last seen running well with a rating of 128, which would put him back in the mix here, so there is every chance of a good run for jockey Harry and trainer Dan Skelton.

15:35 Newmarket – Desert Flower

The big one of the day in the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile for youngsters over 1m. DESERT FLOWER should take all the beating after her success in the Group 2 May Hill at Doncaster in similar conditions. She saw off January comfortably there and they meet on the same terms. The Charlie Appleby runner has already shown that she acts on this track, so William Buick should have a fabulous spin.

15:50 Chepstow – Certainly Red (each-way)

A veterans’ handicap chase over nearly 3m—plenty have chances here. CERTAINLY RED would not be the best-handicapped horse in this race, but he goes well fresh and is a good old boy who jumps and stays well on a going day. Sandown is where he does best, so it’s hard to know how he will get the win here, but if ready once again, he’s an each-way play under Marc Goldstein for Lydia Richards.

16:10 Newmarket – Goodwood Odyssey (each-way)

A competitive handicap in the Old Rowley Cup for 3yo over 1m4f. A wide-open contest. GOODWOOD ODYSSEY has a bit of character about him for me and he can drop himself out a little at various points in a race. However, Kieran Shoemark has found the key to him several times at Sandown and Goodwood and is back on board here. David Menuisier’s challenger ran too free when beaten at Ascot last time and is better than that—an each-way chance.

So best of luck and pray for Yeeehaaas. You hear me Paddy?

Matt Chapman’s Friday ITV Racing Tips

13:30 York – Look Back Smiling (each-way)
13:47 Newmarket – Midnight Thunder
14:05 York – Amiloc
14:25 Newmarket – Flight
14:40 York – Master Builder
15:00 Newmarket – Witness Stand (each-way)
15:15 Chepstow – Juventus De Brion
15:35 Newmarket – Desert Flower
15:50 Chepstow – Certainly Red (each-way)
16:10 Newmarket – Goodwood Odyssey (each-way)

*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.

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