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16:30 Wolverhampton We start off our brand new Friday night all-weather preview article at Wolverhampton with their second race of the meeting. A five furlong maiden is hardly the best race this Friday but I think Jamie Osborne’s three year old Summersault seems somewhat of a certainty. The very lightly raced horse seemed to have a decent start when finishing fourth on it’s racecourse debut and it’s rivals here seem very sub standard. Of the remaining six runners I think the most likely danger is Tony Carroll’s Warm Order but with five races to it’s name I just can’t be convinced it’s willing to put it’s head in front and the Osborne horse is the natural choice. Summersault (WIN)
17:00 Wolverhampton Straight on to the next race at Wolverhampton and I must confess I have changed my mind in regards to who I’m selecting here. Originally I was all set to go with the Andrew Balding favourite and I still think it’s the one to beat but it’s value may have dwindled now at around 6/5. The horse that intrigues me the most is course winner and bottom weight Istimraar. With the weight allowance from good apprentice Joey Haynes it now puts the horse at a lower mark than it’s previous win. The horse likes the surface with one win from just one run on the all-weather and maybe good value to take on the dangerous favourite. Istimraar (E/W if 5/1+)
20:45 Dundalk My third and final selection sees us head over to Ireland to take in Dundalks penultimate race. One of the smaller fields on the card and one of the most open with six of the right runners having course wins to their name. Rummaging is a decent horse but appears to be the proverbial bridesmaid and I fear this maybe too much of a step up for bottom weight Marble Statue. The biggest threat is course and distance winning Misty Lane who is seeking a hat-trick and may just have enough to do it but my preference is for another course and distance winner Captain Joy. Top jockey Joseph O’Brien only has two rides and a win last time out shows it still retains a decent level of ability and has only risen two pounds for that win. The horse has finished in the top two on seven out of eleven races on the dirt surface and holds some very eye-catching form. Looking through it’s previous course races it has a close fourth behind Parish Hall and a win over group winner Custom Cut. That form reads far better than any of it’s rivals here and looks a decent bet. Captain Joy (WIN)
by Rory Paddock