US Horse Racing Tips: A trio to follow on Friday

Our US racing expert Paul Quigley is back on Thursday to deliver his best bets from across the pond. The day's action is taking him to Churchill Downs and Belmont at The Big A.

Check out his US racing tips for Friday below.

20:18 Churchill Downs (Race 6) - Nash @ SP & Discreet Mischief @ SP

Trainer Brad Cox is double-handed. NASH (3) followed up a clear cut victory at Tapeta with an even better run in defeat over course and distance. He was second best to talented dual-stakes winner with a good yardstick back in third.

The five-year-old has spent most of his career running over further. It looks sprinting could be his game. Interestingly, his best three career races have come at Churchill Downs.

It is a little surprising Cox has entered DISCREET MISCHIEF (7) as well. There is a stakes-like purse, so maybe both will run.

Discreet Mischief is a lightly-raced four-year-old who won back to back allowance events in the spring. Based on his last run, a seven-length romp he’s well up to this level. He has less speed than his stablemate so could do with pace to chase down.

This race doesn’t have to be a Brad Cox benefit. Red State (6) is another runner on a hat-trick. He won a pair of swiftly-run allowance events at Oaklawn in March and April. He’s a much-improved four-year-old who can attend fast early fractions and run a top race.

Drawn towards the inner, Harrodsburg (2) may have be aggressively ridden early on. He was when winning at the level below this one over course and distance last month. A couple of key pace horse scratches would help his chances. He was coming off a long layoff when well behind Discreet Mischief in April.

Gold Luck (1) may be all the better for his last run. He is a five-time winner over this track. Doncho (5) has a bit more class with a stakes victory at Aqueduct just over a year ago. His comeback was modest but it was an experiment on the turf. He could rebound getting back on the dirt.

Major Blue (4) is on a long losing run. He could make the frame with one of his better efforts.

21:22 Churchill Downs (Race 8) - Vesting @ SP

Five of these ran in a race at this level over nine furlongs here last month. Presider (6) fared best, finishing second. He has longer to go here and his stamina is unproven.

As they may not go fast early on, he has a chance of lasting home. He has tactical speed so jockey Ben Curtis can make his own racing luck.

The quartet that finished behind Presider last time all have to be reckoned with. My Boy Tony (5) has no worries about the extra distance. He had Fort Thomas (3) behind him when a close up second over this trip at Keeneland.

Domingo (1) and Navy Seal (7) finished further behind Presider. They were pace compromised, sat well off slow early fractions. Domingo ran deceptively well. He runs as if he’s worth a try over today’s distance. The well-bred Navy Seal hasn't looked a natural stayer in the past. He can win with the right trip. Unlike him, Fort Thomas could do with a real test.

VESTING (9) has one run to his name that makes him hard to beat. He ran a neck second over this distance at Gulfstream in January. His two subsequent starts, although not bad, were nowhere near at that level.

Maybe that’s why Chad Brown and his owners were happy to let him go for only $85k at the sales in April. He’s now with trainer Mike Maker. He has a fine record of getting staying horses back to their best. In the hope he can do it with him, he gets the vote.

Unlike most of this field, Emergence (8) is unexposed. He runs as if more ground will improve him. Reserve Greystone (13) is a known quantity over the distance. He is a place chance at least if he gets in this race.

21:43 Belmont At The Big A (Race 8) - Twenty Four Mamba @ SP

This is a tight race with runners coming off fine efforts facing others who have the back form to win this.

In the first-named category are War Stride (1) and TWENTY FOUR MAMBA (4). The former has rounded into form nicely. He won an allowance optional claimer over six furlongs here last month. He is zero from four over today’s distance but is better than the one who last tried it.

Like him, Twenty Four Mamba arrives after a local win. In fact, he has won back-to-back races locally. He ran deceptively well last time, sat close to really fast fractions.

Repo Rocks (5) is a graded stakes runner who is still capable of top-class form. He has not won since last summer but still retains ability. The seven-year-old was just touched off at over seven furlongs at Philadelphia last month. Jockey Ruben Silvera knows him well. He is a four-time winner over today’s distance.

Top Gunner (3) and Baby Yoda (6) have questions to answer. Top Gunner won well at Keeneland in April. He needs to rebound after a poor run at Churchill. His career best effort came at Aqueduct. Winning rider Manny Franco is back in the saddle.

That is food for thought at least. Baby Yoda has an even better CV with a six-length Grade 2 victory at Saratoga last summer to his name. He went to the sidelines after a modest effort last November. His trainer Bill Mott has a decent record with lay off horses. The booking of Flavien Prat suggests he may be live on his comeback.

Sheriff Bianco (2) ran poorly here in April and has been freshened up. He has a chance of his state bred stakes winning form of February. Likewise the comebacking Light Man (7). He won a similar race to him over course and distance in October.

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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...