Friday Racing Tips: Milcree can maintain recent resurgence

There are five meetings to enjoy across the UK and Ireland on Friday, with action overJumps and on the Flat. 

Fakenham, Kelso and Chepstow are the afternoon Jumps cards, with all-weather flat racing at Wolverhampton and Dundalk throughout the evening. Amongst our Friday Racing Tips is one for trainer Nicky Richards, who bids to remain undefeated over fences. 

13:30 Kelso - Kocktail Bleu @ 5/6

KOCKTAIL BLEU looks capable of defying a penalty in the opening 2m novice race at Kelso on Friday. Chris Gordon’s runner showed clear promise in a couple of bumpers, behind smart prospects in Idaho Sun and Kripticjim.

He transferred that ability to hurdles at the first time of asking when accounting for a couple of subsequent winners at Fontwell in November. He improved in defeat last time out, when pulling clear of the remainder behind Baron Noir at Kempton, and a repeat of that performance may be good enough here.

Kaka’s Cousin and They Want Me have shown promise and are also penalised as previous winners, but will need further improvement to match Kocktail Bleu.

15:00 Kelso - Maximilian @ 5/1

Lightly raced ten-year-old MAXIMILIAN could be worth siding with on his handicap debut over fences. He has clearly had his issues, given his patchy race profile, but has strung together a trio of promising runs this season since returning from an absence.

He was only a neck behind Western Knight, who has won his only subsequent start, when second on his debut over fences in December and he backed that up in a match race on his next run.

He was slightly disappointing most recently, but had valid excuses and was up against a very useful rival in Wendigo, who had previously finished third in the Grade 1 Kauto Star at Kempton on Boxing Day.

Donald McCain’s runner had been a smart Novice hurdler, finishing second in the Grade 1 Sefton Hurdle back in 2023 and could make an impact now handicapping from his opening mark of 135.

15:35 Kelso – Milcree @ 5/2

MILCREE defied a 622-day absence when winning impressively on his debut over fences at Ayr in January. An 8lb rise for that comfortable victory looks well within range, with the form franked by third-placed Jipcot, who bolted up next time.

The son of Milan marked himself down as one to keep thoroughly on side, looking a natural over the larger obstacles and has the potential to go through the grades if staying sound.