Best bets for the horse racing Friday 18th January 2019
They race on the All-Weather at Lingfield and Kempton on Friday and I will be having an interest at both meetings. Lingfield is the afternoon card and I fancy two there.
I put up a horse called Reflektor the other day, got beat fading out of it, but one from that race that caught the eye was the mare that finished third Gorgeous Noora. She goes in the Play 4 To Score At Betway Handicap at 2.30 over 6f Friday. She was coming with a strong looking run when the door slammed shut on her inside the final furlong and she had to be switched right before running on late. That was her first run for Archie Watson and followed a three-month break so it is assumed she's likely to strip fitter this time and with a bit more luck in running can take this. I have the 5-2.
They face 5f for the Betway Handicap at 3.05. The veteran Six-time C&D winner Pharoh Jake won last time, real messy race with a faller and one brought-down, you don’t see that often on the All-Weather! He gets in here off the same mark, due to rise 4lb in the ratings after this, and Ellie MacKenzie rides again taking off 7lb. The chestnut is drawn nicely in stall one and should be able to get an ideal spot before kicking on to glory. I have a bit of the 11-2 with Paddy Power overnight. Fareeq is the danger, was ahead of Pharoh Jake on 31st December when second and third over track and trip, but the grey is effectively 7lb worse off here with the claim of MacKenzie taken in to account.
Over at Kempton in the evening I will be on Nylon Speed making a he’s All-Weather hat-trick attempt in the 1m3f 32red.com Handicap at 7.15. I put him up when he won on the 5th January over 1m4f at Lingfield – had won previously over 1m4f here in August before going hurdling. The 5lb rise for that win earlier this month looks fair to me as he was only ridden out to win and the second Dutch Uncle has come out and won since to frank the form. The Alan King-trained five-year-old looks to have more to offer yet the winter on the All-Weather. I have the early 9-4.
Be lucky