Friday Racing Tips: Frero Banbou to shine

Lots of Friday racing action in store across Britain and Ireland, with day two of Aintree's Grand National Festival very much the headline act.

They have a quartet of Grade 1 contests on Merseyside, alongside the Topham over the famous National fences.

Jumps action also comes from Fakenham, while afternoon Flat action is at Leicester before the Friday Night Lights go on at Southwell and Dundalk for their all-weather meetings.

16:05 Aintree – Frero Banbou @ 18/1

The Topham Handicap Chase at Aintree is run over the National Course, an early chance to get a look at those famous spruce-clad fences before Saturday's main dish.

This is a Betfred Super Extra Place Race, with an incredible SIX places each-way and the Venetia Williams-trained FRERO BANBOU makes plenty of appeal to find his way into the reckoning at a decent price.

He hasn't won for a while (January 2022) but that success was on heavy ground at Lingfield and he's very capable when the mud is flying.

On his seasonal comeback he ran a good third in the Grand Sefton over this course and distance off a mark of 133 in November. He finds himself rated 2lb lower now, despite some good efforts since.

He was second to Shakem Up'arry at Cheltenham on New Year's Day and a more than commendable sixth behind the same rival in last month's Plate back in the Cotswolds.

Charlie Deutsch's partner has just 10st 4lb to carry now and, given he showed a liking for this test earlier in the season, is fancied to run a big race at a tasty price.

17:15 Aintree – Brucio @ 15/2

The finale at Aintree is another race in which Betfred offer enhanced terms with the Alder Hey Handicap Hurdle being an Extra Place Race (five places).

The eye is very much drawn to the mare BRUCIO for the shrewd Stuart Crawford yard in the colours of Simon Munir and Isaac Suede.

She was a stylish winner at the Dublin Racing Festival in February, taking out a Listed handicap hurdle by a decent margin, after which connections sought to have a go at a Kelso Grade 2 for novices.

The trip to Scotland was essentially a non-event after Brucio was brought down at the first obstacle.

She's up to a rating of 132 now but it would be a shock if that proves the limit of her ability and this could prove a really clever piece of targeting, with the excellent Ben Bromley on board for this concluding Conditional Jockeys' And Amateur Riders' contest.

19:00 Southwell – Damoiseau @ 7/1

After Aintree, there's plenty of evening all-weather racing to feast on and DAMOISEAU may be ready to break the maiden tag for trainer Ian Williams at Southwell.

The French import was toiling over sprint trips in the early months of the year, after leaving Andre Fabre to join this yard, but is now finding some form over longer distances.

He was third at Wolverhampton last month over an extended-mile and improved again to be second at Dunstall Park over 1m1½f this month.

He goes up once more in trip now, with first-time cheekpieces deployed, and given he was initially rated 67 in January on first start for this trainer, he could be set to take full advantage of a 19lb lower mark now that his stamina is further explored.

Find more Horse Racing Tips here at Betfred Insights