Horse Racing Tips: Oisin Murphy is the master Tactician

Flat racing holds sway across Britain and Ireland on Friday with a total of eight meetings taking place in the afternoon and evening. First off is Uttoxeter before they go to Ascot, Thirsk, Kilbeggan, Cork, York, Chepstow and Sandown Park.

Among our Friday horse racing tips is an Andrew Balding-trained runner who has age on his side and should appreciate the step up in trip with Oisin Murphy booked for the ride again.

Horse Racing Odds

14:25 Ascot - Tactician @ 11/10

Seven three-year-olds have won the 2m handicap since 2009 so this is a race that generally goes the way of a horse with low mileage, and Andrew Balding's TACTICIAN ticks plenty of boxes with Oisin Murphy booked for the ride again.

The Lope De Vega colt appreciated the step up to 1m6f on his third start when easily winning a Goodwood maiden on decent ground in June, and he was just held by an older horse in Dancing In Paris when narrowly denied at this track over 1m6f on his handicap debut.

It's no surprise that Tactician has been nudged up a further 3lb by the handicapper, but the longer trip is likely to bring out further improvement and he could still be well ahead of his mark.

15:35 Ascot - Chasing Aphrodite @ 14/1

Moving on to the 1m4f handicap on the card, another competitive affair, and one horse that might be overlooked in the market is CHASING APHRODITE, who could possibly get all of these opponents off the bridle in his current mood.

Trained by Harry Eustace, he was better than the bare result suggested when seventh at Windsor in May, beaten a length and a half after leading for much of the way. However, he wasn't to be caught when making all at Sandown last time.

This is obviously a tougher assignment but he is only 4lb higher in the weights, which is more than reasonable, and if he is in a similar mood on Friday, he might be hard to catch in the hands of Tom Marquand.

16:10 Ascot - Individualism @ 10/3

A frustrating horse to follow and a beaten favourite three times in his career already, Charlie Johnston's INDIVIDUALISM finally got off the mark in a Carlisle handicap last time, seemingly relishing his first spin over 1m3f.

The son of Too Darn Hot didn't have much to beat that day - just four moderate rivals - but he set off in front and won in the manner of a horse who will relish staying distances in the future.

As with the majority of the stable's horses, Individualism is unlikely to be hanging around on this occasion and if he is allowed a soft lead now he is stepping up another furlong in trip, he could well be hard to catch.

The last three winners of this race were aged three and Individualism is the only horse of that age in the line-up. He has scope to improve again off his current mark.

Today's Horse Races

Horse Racing Tips from Betfred Insights.