Best bets for the horse racing Friday 12th January 2024

I have had just the one bet this week, a double at Kempton on Wednesday with El Cordobes winning but Popcorn Magic sadly pulling-up after just three-furlongs - I hope the colt is okay. Things are somewhat busier going into the weekend and I have two fancies running on Friday one here in the UK and the other at Meydan.  

Best bet for the horseracing at Huntingdon 

I first tipped Naturally High when he won at Sandown back in 2021 and made a note at the time the he looked one to keep an eye on in Novice Hurdle Division. Not seen again until February 2023 form figures of P/U, 6th, P/U and 6th suggested he had gone at the game. He bounced bak to form when dead-heating over 2m3f at Fontwell on Boxing Day, appeared to get a little lonely in front and was caught on the line. Off a mark of 95 here, won off 100 at Sandown in 2021, he clearly could be well in it Gay Moore has rekindled his desire for the game. At 3-1 the nine-year-old is worth an investment in the Weatherbys Scientific Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle at 1.20. 

Best bet for the horseracing at Meydan

There's no Pattern races out in Dubai this week but there is a bet to be had on what looks a competitive card at the Dubai Carnival. Starlust will be jolly for the 6f Al Wasl Stakes Presented By Nakheel Stakes at 3.50 but has to give them all weight under the race conditions. Third in the G.1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Santa Anita when last seen he got a good run there and has it to do here for me. Trained by Charlie Appleby, Star Of Mystery was runner-up in the G.2 Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes,  may have been unsuited by rain-softened ground, before coming home a close sixth on her final two-year-old outing in the G.2 Lowther Stakes. As a filly she gets 6lb from Starlust and at least 3lb from the rest of the colts which should help. Tongue strap goes on for the first time and from a high draw I expect her to be right there at the finish. I have a bit of the 5-2. Charlie Appleby said of her this week “Star Of Mystery heads into this in good form and I have been pleased with her preparation. She campaigned at a decent level last season, winning her Listed race and placing at G2 level before a creditable run at York."

Horseracing at Wolverhampton

Kalidasa makes his debut, finally having missed some entries, for the yard of Charlie Appleby back here in the UK in the BetMGM: It's Showtime Maiden Stakes at 6.30. By Frankel out of Group winning mare So Mi Dar, a sister to G.1 winner Too Darn Hot, the colt fetched 2,800,000 Guineas as a yearling! They have had to be patient with this one at Moulton Paddocks and I doubt Dunstall Park on a Friday evening in January would have been the plan for this one but here we are. The colts pedigree is a who’s who of horseracing over the last thirty years or so and if he has only half the talent his ancestors did he’ll be winning races in 2024. To say the Bookies aint taking a chance is an understatement as they opened up 1-4 Thursday evening! 

Be lucky