Horse Racing Tips: NAP Of The Day, NB & Longshot

Steve Mullington gives his best horse racing tips ahead of Friday's action...

2.10 Saint-Cloud – Halfday (NAP)

Friday afternoon sees the Group 3 Prix Cleopatre comin’ atcha from Saint-Cloud and the 1m2½f contest can go the way of the Wertheimer & Frere-owned Halfday.

A well bred filly by Lope De Vega/Daytime, the dam’s father was Frankel so we are looking at a youngster who should be at home with the trip and the ground.

Saint-Cloud has been riding very tacky in recent weeks after plenty of rainfall, so I would envisage her stamina coming into play in the final stages under the reigning French champion jockey Maxime Guyon.

Danger: Paraiba

3.55 Ayr – Dr T J Eckleburg (NB)

It feels like many moons ago now since I was placing a bet on Dr T J Eckleburg over 1m2f at Ripon races when he was trained by David O’Meara, but today he is in with a great shout of scoring in a 2m½f Novices’ Chase at Ayr.

A winner at Ludlow in December, the now Evan Williams-trained six-year-old has ended up running in some very small fields ever since, and today’s six-runner affair is pretty much par for the course for him.

Connor Ring takes the ride once again and the pair can go well at decent odds in our horse racing betting.

Danger: Royal Mer

2.20 Ayr – Hashtag Boum (E/W Longshot)

Trainer Ruth Jefferson isn’t exactly a prolific visitor to the winner’s circle these days but when she has a nice horse out you have to have a second look in the betting.

The seven-year-old mare Hashtag Boum has had a pretty successful winter and all her runs have been solid, even in defeat.

At Haydock last time she was a little too keen in the early stages, but if she can settle better today she should see out the trip better.

Danger: Phil De Pail

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Steve Mullington gives his best horse racing tips ahead of Saturday's action...

2.05 Newbury – Emalka (NAP)

On a day that sees the major crossover of the NH and Flat seasons, my NAP is in the seven furlongs Group 3 Fred Darling Stakes at Newbury.

Roger Varian’s Kingman-filly Emalka won with the minimum odd fuss at Southwell at the end of November and looks like an exciting prospect this season.

She’s currently a 40/1 shot in our horse racing odds for the 1000 Guineas on May 5th at Newmarket, odds which won’t last for long if she wins this contest.

Bred by Godolphin and owned by Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum, Emalka holds a great chance today.

Danger: Regal Jubilee

3.55 Curragh – Greenland (NB)

Aidan O'Brien won the Prix Greffulhe at Saint-Cloud for the first time last season as Greenland pulled out all the stops and then looked like being a live French Derby hope.

He unfortunately didn’t make it there and was next seen running three lengths fourth to subsequent Arc winner Ace Impact in the Prix Guillaume d'Ornano at Deauville.

On that form alone you would make him a strong favourite to land this Group 3 Alleged Stakes under world class jockey Ryan Moore.

Since its inception in 2003, O’Brien has landed the 1m2f Alleged Stakes a total of seven times already.

Danger: Village Voice

3.35 Ayr- Inis Oirr (E/W Longshot)

A 21 lengths victor in the Edinburgh National in February, Lucinda Russell’s Inis Oirr should give punters a good run for their money on Saturday in the Scottish Grand National at Ayr.

Jockey Derek Fox jumped off in front on Inis Oirr in the 3m7½f contest at Musselburgh and stayed there and I can see him employing exactly the same tactics over this four mile trip at Ayr. He should be a nice price in the betting too.

Of the others, Midlands National winner Beauport is of interest as is Devon National scorer Mr Vango.

Horse Racing Tips & Predictions