Newbury Tips: Count on Cristo this Friday

With six UK and Irish meetings scheduled for Friday, there's something to cater for all tastes - including a Flat card from Newbury, where they have eight races from 13:25-17:15 on ground forecast to be good to soft (good in places).

I've picked out a trio of Newbury tips, including one for Richard Hannon who loves a winner at the track.

14:55 - Cristo e/w @ 14/1

The 7f nursery (14:55) is one of the most competitive races of the day at Newbury and it would be foolish to discount CRISTO, who bids to give Richard Hannon a sixth victory in the last ten runnings.

The Havana Grey colt has shown enough to suggest he can win a race like this. He was beaten only three lengths in a novice at Kempton in August and followed his sixth at this course 10 days later with his best effort yet back at Kempton a couple of weeks ago.

Cristo was caught at the back of the field on that nursery debut over a mile, in a race where those at the front were there throughout, and he made rapid late progress to be nearest at the finish. It was an eyecatching effort under Liam Keniry.

Sean Levey takes over in the saddle this time and there should be a better pace for Cristo here because a big-field like this hurtling down the straight at Newbury lends itself to that type of race.

The drop back to 7f shouldn’t be a problem for Cristo under that scenario and he is fancied to step up on that nursery debut now that he is returned to turf.

This is an Extra Place Race, with four on offer instead of three at 1/5 the odds for all each-way bets.

16:05 - Lake Forest @ 15/8

There is a lot to like about the way that LAKE FOREST is progressing and he comes here after recording back-to-back career-best efforts. Another one should win him this race.

The William Haggas-trained three-year-old has run only twice this season and both times he caught the eye finishing strongly behind top-class sprinters who are Group 1 performers.

He was beaten only by Inisherin when second in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot and then chased home Elite Status in the Hackwood Stakes at this course last time.

On both occasions he shaped like he is in desperate need of a step up in trip and he gets that here, trying 7f for the first time. With the extra distance expected to bring further improvement from the selection, it will be disappointing if he is beaten.

17:15 - Willy Campbell e/w @ 11/1

The closing handicap looks like a good opportunity for WILLY CAMPBELL, who has been running well on the all-weather recently and might be able to transfer that form to turf.

Willy Campbell is improving and comes here seeking a fourth consecutive career-best effort, having recorded form figures reading 322 over trips between a mile and 1m2f recently.

He will need to continue his improvement if he is to break his maiden at the eighth attempt and racing on turf raises a bit of a question mark. However, the doubts about the surface will be factored into his price and it’s worth taking a chance on him at what should be good odds.

This is an Extra Place Race, with four on offer instead of three at 1/5 the odds for all each-way bets.

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