RACE PREVIEW & TIPS (FRIDAY)

14:30 Ascot

Raffle Prize was given an eye catching ride by Dettori at Ascot and we haven’t seen him back on the track since. There’s no doubt the Johnson team will ave been working hard to prepare him for this one at Newmarket today. Her previous two winning runs were both over 5 and 6 furlongs respectively so the trip should be of no great concern. However it’s thought that the two year old is trained specifically for the 6f trip and she gets that distance today. Although she carries a weight penalty in light of her recent win I doubt it will be enough to stop her in the bid for the hat trick.

She will need to reverse the form with the favourite today but she’s shown bold improvement since and will get her preferred trip. Dayehh is the marked danger who could likely set off at odds on based on the credibility of her own recent Ascot win.

Finally it’s Final Song that also deserves a mention with Moore taking the reigns. Ran well behind Raffle Prize at Ascot but will need to be at her best to make an impression. There is value in both Raffle Prize and Final Song at current market prices but my preference has to be for the former.

RAFFLE PRIZE (WIN)

19:20 Cork

We head over the Irish Sea to take in a race from Cork where the Gordon Elliott trained Santana Plessis aims to go one better than he has gone in his past two runs. Hopefully the horse doesn’t prove to be a proverbial bridesmaid however with Davy Russell on board and with more experience than most of his rivals I feel today could be the day he finally gets his head in front, especially with the addition of blinkers for the first time.

The unbeaten Savina is the obvious threat but this looks a more competitive race than the one he was successful in previously.

Top weight An Fearchan and the Charles Byrnes trained Sky Marshal have great chances and at a bigger price Stormy Master could be a surprise package.

SANTANA PLESSIS (WIN)

The Cambridge News – PicksfromthePaddock.co.uk:

14:30 Ascot – RAFFLE PRIZE (WIN)

The Jersey Evening Post – Rory Paddock:

19:20 Cork – SANTANA PLESSIS (WIN)

East Anglian Daily Times – Dean Kilbryde:

15:15 York – SHADES OF BLUE (WIN)

Norwich Evening News – Chris Connolly:

17:10 Ascot – NORMANDIE BARRIERE (WIN)

Ipswich Star – Matt Polley:

20:40 Chepstow – BILLIEBROOKEDIT (WIN)