_edited.png)
16:15 Wolverhampton
We start tonights Friday Night Lights with the first all-weather race of the evening in the first at Wolverhampton.
I hate to be overly confident with a horse but I have to admit that the selection in this I am pretty assured with.
Scoreline has been running decently without winning, that was up until last time out when the four year old managed to get its head in front. That was over Wolverhampton’s new tapeta surface with the same jockey in the saddle. The horse has yet to see an increase in its weight for that win and shouldn’t be put off by the extra two hundred and sixteen yards it tackles today.
The noticeable danger has to be eight year old Haadeth but a horse that has not won on an artificial surface in over a year and who is coming back from a layoff may just need this run.
Scoreline is priced at around 7/4 and that seems pretty decent value for a horse who has ticked a lot of boxes where its rivals have questions to answer.
Scoreline (WIN)
18:45 Wolverhampton
We stick with the midlands course as we take in their last race on the card and we plump for a bit of an outsider.
It’s safe to say the Adam Kirby favourite is worth its spot at the head of the market but it has hardly been a model of consistency and is not assured to carry on its winning ways, especially when it’s priced as short as 6/5 it just has to be taken on.
A notable danger will be one of the oldest horses in the race Piccolo Express who is probably due a win but is another that can go from one good run to an equally poor effort.
Although not an obvious choice I’m going for a lightly raced four year old maiden who seemed to put in a much better effort when fourth last time out. The jockey that’s booked for the ride is apprentice Shane Gray who is picking up wins for Godolphin and clearly shows great ability to be given such a responsible position. Zaria is not the best horse in the race but may just be able to improve for its latest effort and could bring about some decent each way money at a double figure price.
Zaria (E/W)
19:35 Dundalk
We make our customary trip over to Ireland on a Friday night and take in a decent seven furlong handicap,
It’s a very open race despite there only being nine runners and cases can easily be made for about seven of the runners.
As with my first selection however I am going to plump for another favourite. Trainer Tracey Collins has some fantastic horses that run at Dundalk and she seems to be building a good reputation over in Ireland, especially with her all-weather runners. She saddles the favourite Indian Landing who has a course and distance win to its name and who was very close when finishing second last time out. The capable Michael Hussey takes the reigns and from a decent draw in stall three has a brilliant chance.
A mention has to go to the hat-trick seeking Twistsandturns who has another enviable draw but may see this as a bigger step up in class and also Political Policy who, if it recaptures some of its much earlier form should have a decent chance.
Indian Landing (WIN)
by Rory Paddock