Friday’s Racing

Hi all,

Inside today’s main piece I’m looking at the best of Friday’s racing at Thirsk and Sandown.

Goodbye August, Hello September

As summer fades into autumn, punters face new challenges. Cooler mornings and shorter days mark the end of turf evening meetings, while weather shifts lead to softer ground. September also brings horses back from their summer breaks, complicating form analysis.

Admittedly, this year didn’t bring much of a summer, and York last week already felt like autumn. I’m glad to see August go—it was my first losing month since January. Whilst the Ebor Festival wasn’t great from a punting perspective, if a couple of seconds had gone my way I'd have been nicely in front over the four days.

With September comes new hope and fresh opportunities. Time to dust off, focus, and move forward.

If you want my Weekend selections you can get them here.

Friday Racing

Friday’s two most valuable races are at Thirsk.

Thirsk

Source: Racing Post

Trilby heads the betting for the Happy 18th Birthday Myles Handicap (3:15).  He comes into the race in good form but 9/4 looks plenty short enough. Given he’d be better with more ease the ground. Tinto is dual C&D winner with the latest of those successes coming in May on good to firm. He should go well and is one to consider.  Brazen Bolt finished a 1 ¼ length 2^nd of 12 in last year’s corresponding race before going onto win over C&D later in September. He did well in Bahrain over the winter but has struggled on four starts since returning from the Middle East.  Brandon Wilkie takes off a handy 5lb and I’m hoping he can bounce back to form returned to a venue that suits.

Cerulean Bay returned to winning ways at Haydock two starts and followed up over C&D 27 days ago. Up 4lb but the 3-year-old could well complete the hat trick. Rhythm Master shaped much better than he had on his stable debut when a 1 ½ length 4th of 8 at Haydock 20 days ago. He gets the addition of the first time cheekpieces and the 6-year-old is down to a winnable mark in the Best Price Guaranteed Daily At Vickers.Bet Handicap (2:45).

Sandown

3:30 – King Of Charm was set a bit too much to do when 6^th of 9 at Lingfield 17 days ago. Prior to that he had finished a neck 2^nd of 8 here (7f) and his two best RPR’s have now come at Sandown. First run at a mile but the 3-year-old should stay and looks capable of winning a handicap off his present mark.

Friday’s ‘Lay or Play’

Yesterday’s two ‘lay or play’ qualifiers lost which means yet more profit for the layers. That’s just one win from the last 32 runners. There are no qualifiers for Friday's racing.

Good luck with your Friday bets.

John