A busy Friday of racing gets the weekend started early with action at Chepstow, Musselburgh, Lingfield, Newcastle and Dundalk.
Before we get stuck in to the tips for Friday, we need to take a quick look back at the tips from Thursday. Almazhar Garde fell fairly early in his chase whilst at Market Rasen in the listed bumper, The Getaway Star ran a good second but was no match for the impressive Panic Attack of Willie Mullins who is now a 14/1 shot for the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival.
Kepagge
Chepstow (13.45)
Chepstow hosts an interesting National Hunt card which features Rich Ricci’s first runner with Venetia Williams.
The conditions are likely to be very testing with the Welsh course having received a huge amount of rain in recent weeks.
The 13.45 Novice Hurdle looks a good contest and I find myself siding with David Pipes Kepagge. There is plenty to like about the six-year-old by Getaway.
A bumper winner at this track on soft ground, he progressed to win his first start on heavy over hurdles at Leicester last time out. That run contained a few errors and he will have to improve his jumping to claim a contest of this nature. That said, he looks the type that has a big engine and a good future over hurdles.
Good Time Jonny
Musselburgh (16.00)
Musselburgh’s closing bumper looks to be between two candidates on known form.
Chuvelo has already given Brian Hughes two wins this season in his hunt for the jumps jockey title at Bangor and Carlisle, and carries a double penalty for those wins.
The selection however will go to Irish trained horse Good Time Jonny.
His form looks strong with his last run on Boxing Day at Leopardstown coming in a race which is usually pretty warm. He also has the help of a pull in the weights with Chuvelo.
