Newmarket Tips: Bank on Al Baahy to make it back in front
With seven UK & Irish meetings on Friday, there's plenty of racing action to cater for all tastes. Included in that is a fascinating Flat card at Newmarket, which runs from 14:23-16:55 on ground forecast to be good to firm.
One of my three Newmarket tips is Al Baahy, who's fancied to make a winning return to turf after a winter campaign on the all-weather.
14:23 - Al Baahy @ 16/1
The opening hands-and-heels apprentice handicap could turn into a test at the trip and that might suit AL BAAHY, who has plenty of form over a mile and should be well suited by a strongly run 7f at this track.
Al Baahy has dropped to a mark that is 6lb lower than when last successful at Wetherby in May last year and he was strong at the finish that day, winning with authority.
He went on to record several good efforts on turf last season, including a fourth off a mark 8lb higher than this at Thirsk last September, but that was his last run on grass.
Al Baahy lost his form on the all-weather over the winter and that is the reason for his fall in the weights, but he is a much better horse on turf and should improve for his recent spin at Wolverhampton. That was his first run for 142 days, so maybe he lacked fitness.
The return to this surface is definitely in Al Baahy’s favour and he could bounce back to his best.
15:23 - Skukuza @ 11/4
This mile handicap is a classy little race featuring several promising three-year-olds and the best of them might be SKUKUZA, who recorded a big career-best last time and might be open to plenty of further improvement for leading trainer Ed Dunlop.
Skukuza was upped to this trip for the first time in that course-and-distance handicap two weeks ago and stayed on well to finish second behind the progressive winner Volterra. The selection pulled nicely clear of the third in the closing stages and that was after racing keenly early on.
That suggests he has a lot of ability and, if he can settle better in the early stages of this contest, there should be plenty more to come.
He has improved with each of his last three outings and any further progress should make him difficult to beat. He already sets a good standard on the form he showed last time.
16:25 - Swiss Money @ 33/1
This 1m4f handicap is a competitive event and the one to be on might be SWISS MONEY, who is making his return to the Flat following a disappointing run over hurdles last time.
The Harriet Dickin-trained four-year-old was undone by a steady gallop that day and is better judged on his previous form, which included a good fifth in a hot Flat contest at Bath in April.
There was promise in that run as, although Swiss Money was beaten 15 lengths into fifth on that occasion, it was a much stronger race than this. The third, Champagne Piaff, has since scored at Epsom and runner-up City Streak won at Chester.
A reproduction of that form would give Swiss Money a chance here and the step up to 1m4f also looks certain to suit given his solid form over hurdles. He could spring a surprise under Callum Hutchinson, who rates excellent value for his 3lb claim in the saddle.
Find more Horse Racing Tips here at Betfred Insights
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