Friday Racing Tips: Ben Pauling runner out to prove he’s no Bad horse

Flat racing holds sway across Britain and Ireland on Friday with five meetings taking place across the afternoon and into the evening.

First off is Uttoxeter and Ascot over the jumps before they go to three all-weather cards at Southwell, Wolverhampton and Dundalk.

Amongst our Friday fancies is one for trainer Ben Pauling who has been heavily punted several times without success, but might finally get his turn in the winner's circle.

12.45 Ascot - Fifty Ball @ 8/1

A former course and distance winner, Gary Moore's FIFTY BALL can thrive back at the Berkshire course in the 2m5½f handicap hurdle for conditional jockeys.

The eight-year-old son of Cokoriko was last successful in March 2022 off a mark of 127 here at Ascot, and he is now 9lb lower in the weights.

Runner-up in a Betfair Hurdle in the past, with the likes of Edwardstone and Buzz behind, Fifty Ball evidently has regressed, but Moore has saddled a good few runners to victory in December so the yard has hit a bit of form.

Fifty Ball ran well for a long way at Lingfield over 2m7f in third last month, only fading out of things at the last hurdle. With that in mind, the drop in trip should be a help.

13.20 Ascot - Welcom To Cartries @ 4/7

Our next selection of the day comes in the 2m5½f maiden hurdle and the Paul Nicholls-trained WELCOM TO CARTRIES could prove to be a class apart.

Sent off 4/5f on his sole point start, the market vibes proved to be correct as he bolted up by 16-lengths at Borris House 12 months ago, beating runner-up Ideal Du Tabert who is currently rated 114 over hurdles.

Subsequently purchased for €450,000, Welcom To Cartries only found the now 132-rated Beat The Bat a head too good on rules debut and on figures it will take a good one to beat him here.

14.30 Ascot - Bad @ 9/4

Ben Pauling's BAD arrived in Britain with a big reputation last season and as a consequence was heavily backed for the Boodles at Cheltenham, where he disappointed in 13th on stable debut despite being sent off at odds of 5/1.

The four-year-old wasn't given a hard time when third at Ascot on seasonal reappearance and he has what it takes to finally get a victory on British soil in the 1m7½f handicap hurdle.

Again heavily backed at Newbury in the Gerry Feilden when last seen, Bad only found the game Hansard too strong in the finish. Beau Morgan takes off a valuable 5lb here which means he is effectively 3lb lower in a much easier contest.

This horse has stung punters on several occasions now, but he won't find a better opportunity to get off the mark for Ben Pauling.

Check out the rest of our Horse Racing Tips here.