Lucky 15 Tips: Cracking Friday afternoon at Newbury to savour

We'll not mention the football. That's me, not mentioning the football. Right - Friday afternoon is full of terrific-looking race meetings and we're heading (ouch) for Newbury's six-race programme that kicks in at 15:00.

A host of the sport's top jocks are in attendance and so, dear reader, are we. Enjoy.

Horse Racing Odds

Newbury 15:00 - Cilician @ 11/4

Two-year-old novice, over 7f.

Our pick is a gelding by a Middle Park winner, racing in the legendary Sangster silks now attributed to Manton Thoroughbreds - Cilician.

Brian Meehan trains, and Joe Leavy has the riding assignment. Three runs so far, including a tilt at the G2 Coventry at the royal meeting. Two very encouraging second-placed finishes on his other two spins - at Nottingham on debut, then most recently two weeks ago at Sandown.

That was in a £21k-to-the-winner novice and that experience will be vital in this, as it's in pretty short supply elsewhere. The team had a winner in these colours on Thursday at Chepstow, and they're beautifully placed to add another this afternoon.

Newbury 15:35 - Faith In Florence @ 2/1

Maiden two-year-old fillies go 6f.

Not many have even seen a racecourse yet - but our selection Faith In Florence is one who has; a solitary Yarmouth spin at this trip 29 days ago finishing 2l adrift after meeting with traffic problems at around the furlong pole.

Very promising then, and Faith In Florence interestingly has a Lowther entry for next month's Ebor Festival at York. Ed Walker trains, and Kieran Shoemark is in the plate.

Rossa Ryan and Ralph Beckett look the biggest danger with Marsala, but Ed's Mehmas filly out of a Choisir mare is bred to be very speedy and I'm happy to side with her.

Newbury 16:10 - Nabati @ 5/4

Time for a Team Godolphin two-year-old, in this Listed heat over 6f.

Nabati is a colt by Night Of Thunder out of a Declaration Of War mare. One 6f maiden outing so far, a comfortable Yarmouth success at long odds-on, for trainer Charlie Appleby and jockey Will Buick.

Norway's biggest weighing room fan (oh dear - another football reference) is again on top, and the horse holds a York Gimcrack entry.

I've a feeling he could be quite smart.

Newbury 16:45 - Luminare @ 4/1

A one-mile Class 5 handicap now, for three-year-olds.

Trainer William Haggas, enjoying a fine season, saddles Dark Angel filly Luminare, out of a Dansili mare. Stable jockey Tom Marquand rides. Our selection has two wins from her nine starts to date and ran well here 36 days ago when a 2.5l second in a similar test.

That was just about her best run yet and having had a nice little break should be ready to step up again and take her second handicap. She runs off the same mark, 73, and is familiar with the track. I like her chances.

If all four of our selections won, today's notional 50p win Lucky 15, at the prices indicated (they can of course fluctuate), would return around £184 for a £7.50 total stake. If you can improve upon our selections (of course you can) - then go for it!

NAPS table with Betfred Insights.