Newmarket free racing tips: Testing conditions tailor-made for overpriced mudlark
- Tipstrr writer
- 2 hours ago
After Thursday’s Newmarket tip squeezed home by a neck at tasty odds of 13/2, Tipstrr pundit Steve Jones is looking for more of the same with his selection from the last race on Friday's card.
17:20 Newmarket: Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Handicap (1 mile 1 furlong)
The ground was changed from good-soft to soft after the first race here on Thursday and there is plenty more rain forecast to fall between now and this race, which is the last on the card.
Connections of First Officer will be very pleased with this scenario because the five-year-old has produced all his best turf runs on testing ground.
His two best efforts came at the end of his three-year-old season when he won a 10-furlong handicap at Nottingham by no less than 6½ lengths from ten rivals on soft ground.
Upped in grade a couple of weeks later, he at least equalled that performance by running a very close runner-up of eight (beaten a nose) in Class 3 company over the same distance on heavy going at Doncaster.
He ran off 87 on that occasion, so he has to be of major interest back under very similar conditions and racing off just 78.
Best Bet : First Officer each-way in the 17:20 at Newmarket
He didn’t get much in the way of testing ground last season, but he did get one chance on heavy ground on his final outing of the campaign, when he again finished second of 15 in a 10-furlong Class 3 at this venue, and with today’s rider’s claim, he will effectively be 4lbs lower today.
His only chance on testing ground so far this term was at Chester a fortnight ago, but that very tight circuit doesn’t suit his galloping style and all his best runs have come on galloping tracks with deep ground.
Nevertheless, he attempted to make every yard and was only overhauled inside the last of the 10.5 furlongs, eventually missing out on second place by three quarters of a length.
He ran a lot better than his finishing position suggests, and off a pound lower and back on his favoured track type, he has a very decent chance, especially with more rain forecast.
Of the others, Sweet Reward could easily out-run his big early prices under these conditions, as his best-ever performance was when he won a 10-furlong handicap on soft ground at Goodwood by an emphatic five lengths.
A three-time soft-ground winner over 9-10 furlongs, he is currently operating off a mark that is a pound lower than for that win at Goodwood just over a year ago. He was a 16/1 outsider that day and he could easily surprise again here.
Next Best Bet: Sweet Reward each-way in the 17:20 at Newmarket
- Preview and tips provided Steve Jones, who runs CD Systems Daily Bargain on Tipstrr
