Friday Lucky 15 Tips: Stamina test should be a Breeze

Excellent racing is to be found on Friday, April 26. Jump fans are catered for with Perth, Downpatrick and Chepstow; while on the flat it's Sandown, Doncaster, Cork and Newcastle. One good winner, with our first selection, yesterday - but couldn't back it up.

There's a cracking seven-race National Hunt card at Perth, and that's where I'm heading for our Lucky 15 tips. Sean Bowen is here, and a solitary Willie Mullins raider, ridden by his son Patrick. The jumping season closes (briefly), on Saturday, at Sandown. Not long to wait though to welcome it back, though the major stars don't tend to get revved up until the autumn. All roads will soon lead to the likes of the Betfred Derby at Epsom, and the delights of high summer. Bring it on!

13:30 - Rascal @ 11/2

The opener is a Class 4 handicap hurdle, over 2m. Rascal represents Tom George, raiding from his Gloucestershire base, and Sam Twiston-Davies takes the mount.

He's a very lightly-raced six-year-old arriving here for just his third handicap run in what will be only six career starts, including this afternoon. He's up 3lb, rather unfortunately, for a fine performance at Huntingdon 25 days ago in this grade, but that at least marks him out as progressing nicely.

The long trek can pay dividends today as he takes the next step forward, fingers crossed. The advertised soft ground should be spot on and his sire, Blue Bresil, positively revelled in it.

14:05 - Breeze Of Wind @ 9/2

A long-distance staying chase, for experienced fencers. Breeze Of Wind is a Coltherd family enterprise, with trainer Stuart and jockey Sam. He's a seven-year-old gelding who ran a fine race last time (19 days ago) at Carlisle, finishing a close-up fourth.

Since joining the yard in October '23 he's won four times, having been immediately sent chasing, which is evidently very much his game. Carrying 10st 13lb he gets a nice bit of weight from likely market rivals Duke Of Deception and Conkwell Legend, and having won on the heavy over 4m at Hexham his stamina reserves appear near-bottomless.

Nice race, big chance in my book.

15:15 - Gold Emery @ 7/1

Trainer Donald McCain is a frequent visitor and he saddles the eight-year-old gelding Gold Emery in this 3m novice chase. 37 days ago he ran a fine race at Haydock under today's pilot Theo Gillard, finishing second in this grade over half a mile further.

He's yet to win over the larger obstacles but that's three seconds now, two in his last three outings, and the feeling persists that his turn is close at hand. Generally runs at left-hand tracks but did win his maiden hurdle at Carlisle, which like Perth is right-handed. Another grand little heat.

15:50 - Geryville @ 4/1

Former champion jockey Brian Hughes rides this eight-year-old gelding, by an Arc winner no less, for trainer Micky Hammond. Geryville produced a run as potent as arguably any in his career last time at Carlisle, jumping well and dotting up in this grade, over 4f shorter.

He's run over further many times and when in form, as is certainly the case right now, no stamina limitations have been evident. I'm looking to strike while the iron's hot as it were, and though up 7lb for that latest success he's still got a nice racing weight of 10st 13lb - plus the assistance of Mr Hughes, always a big plus.

If you're playing take care, have fun, and the very best of luck.

This is an example of a Lucky 15. If you can improve upon my selections (of course you can), then go for it!

The odds can fluctuate between publishing our pieces and race-time. As a guide, a £0.25p each-way Lucky 15 on today's selections, at the prices, and assuming all four won, would return around £670 for your total £7.50 stake.

Fred, 'The Bonus King,' invented the 'Lucky' series of bets and their bonuses. My colleague Adam has set out all you need to know with this handy guide - take a look by clicking here.

Lucky 15 tips from Betfred Insights.