US Horse Racing Tips: Paul Quigley’s trio for Friday Stateside

Our US horse racing expert Paul Quigley is back with a trio of horses running at Fair Grounds in New Orleans. Read on for his US Horse Racing Tips for Friday.

Fair Grounds Race 2 (19:15) – No1 Call My Banker

This column as a rule stays well clear of putting up likely short priced favourites. An exception here is No1 Call My Banker. He’s won five out of six starts since joining trainer Joanathan Wong. In the latest, he beat No6 Global Pride and No4 Scooteranddabigman by a length and a half and the same in a similar race to this one. The six year old looks a pretty straightforward ride and shows no sign of going off form.

The selection was 6/4 favourite last time, so the chances are he’s more like even money or even slight odds on. If he is overbet, his old rivals are worth considering. No6 Global Pride is holding his form well. Jockey Jose Ortiz may have a better post to work with now getting off the rail. No4 Scooteranddabigman looked to have his rivals in trouble when building up a decent early lead. He could get a similar advantageous trip.

No5 Oncoming Train and No8 Twirling Roses are closely matched when they ran one-two in a race at this level on 10 January. They add depth to this race. No3 Notion may be a bigger threat cutting back from a mile. He has a chance off his form sprinting. His stablemate No2 Peso in My Pocket came back form when second in a well run claimer last month.

Fair Grounds Race 4 (20:15) – No1 Cairo Charm

No10 Radiant Rebel ran her best race to date when a closing runner up in a slightly higher priced claimer earlier this month. She is one for the shortlist in a race with many possibilities. No1 Cairo Charm finished well beaten by her but she had been away eight months. Her trainer has a decent record second time back after a long absence. Florent Geroux now takes the ride. He was aboard for the last winner here for the trainer. She may go well at a biggish price.

No2 Wannawholelottaluv broke her maiden on debut. She was pitched in at the deep in in stakes company since. Now running first time for sale, she looks very dangerous. Twice raced, last time out maiden winner No9 Mika Ella Pika makes the short list. So too do No5 Honor His Half and No6 Runtolive.     

Fair Grounds Race 7 (21:45) – No1 Rampagius (each way)

There is a chance this maiden will get taken off the turf. That won’t inconvenience No5 El Magnifico who has only ever raced on dirt. Last month, he ran second in a maiden here earning his fifth silver medal in ten career starts. Maybe the surface switch will get him over the hump. He is a half brother to a winner on the grass.

The Godolphin owned No9 Initialize ran with promise in both starts late last year. He has a look of a slow burner and may show the same ability as his graded stakes winning dam as a four year old.

No1 Rampagius may fly under the radar. He finished just behind No2 King Rosso and No6 English Chunnel in a maiden on the dirt last month. Bearing in mind his pedigree, he may improve not trying the turf for the first time. He’s now ridden by Brain Hernandez who is likely to try and save every inch of ground. His old rival No6 English Chunnel is very likely to take a step forward second time back and returning to the turf. He’d be seen to best effect with some speed to chase down.

No11 The Commack Kid goes for a trainer with a fine record with debutants. No12 Pretty Capable and No13 Global Quote make the shortlist if this race is switched to the main track.

Paul Quigley is a long-time US Racing fan and tipster. He provides US Horse Racing Tips for Betfred Insights as well as working for Betfred TV...