Friday Racing Tips: Firefox to light up Naas

Friday is shaping up to be a very busy day of racing, with six meetings taking place across Britain and Ireland.

Naas kicks off proceedings and is swiftly followed by Wincanton, Sedgefield and Huntingdon in Britain. Dundalk begins in mid-afternoon and Wolverhampton completes the evening action.

Amongst our Friday fancies is one for Gordon Elliott in Naas’ feature race that comfortably beat a highly-promising sort last time out and could be destined to go to the top.

13:42 Naas - Firefox @ 15/8

A winner at Fairyhouse on his hurdles debut last time out, Firefox is destined to go far in this division and can come out on top here.

Gordon Elliott’s charge managed to win three bumpers, including a cosy success at Down Royal on his first start of the season. He also got the better of Ile Atlantique, who re-opposes here, by a narrow margin at Fairyhouse in April.

It was his performance on his first start over timber last time out that really took the eye. This son of Walk In The Park travelled like a dream throughout the race, made all the running and went on to score by a comfortable two-and-a-half lengths (2m, soft).

The form of that race looks absolutely rock-solid, as Ballyburn finished second that day and he has since gone on to win by a huge margin when upped to 2m4f over Christmas.

Firefox appears to have the best form on offer and there should be plenty more to come from him over hurdles. The step up to 2m4f is unlikely to pose a problem and he’s expected to get the job done in this competitive-looking Grade 1.

14:50 Huntingdon - Whispering Royal @ 10/3

Alan King’s Whispering Royal could be one to look out for in the juvenile hurdling division. He opened his account over timber when last seen and can continue progressing as he gains more experience.

The four-year-old finished third on his first start over hurdles at Wincanton in October and finished clear of the fourth, despite being 15 lengths behind the winner. It was a fair effort and the form has since been franked by the winner, who went on to score in a Listed race next time out.

This son of Gustav Klimt got off the mark at Doncaster last time out (2m½f, good to soft), making all the running and going on to score by a length-and-a-quarter. The front two finished well clear of the rest and were clearly the ones to take out of the race.

He’ll need to progress again to win here but is entitled to do so and the best could be yet to come from this improving juvenile hurdler.

20:30 Wolverhampton - Asgard's Captain @ 2/1

Asgard's Captain is a fascinating runner in the final race of the day at Wolverhampton. He makes his debut for the Dylan Cunha yard and hasn’t been seen since obliterating the field at Musselburgh in August (1m1f, good).

Held up towards the rear in the early stages, he started making up ground as soon as his jockey said go and pulled 11 lengths clear of the second.

The handicapper certainly didn’t miss that performance however and has responded with a mammoth 14lb rise. It has to be said that the extra weight wouldn’t have stopped him that day and he’s lightly raced enough for there to be further improvement to come.

Unbeaten in two starts over a mile or further, this extended mile should prove perfectly suitable and another big run could be on the cards.