US Horse Racing Tips: Paul marks your card for Friday

Our US racing expert Paul Quigley is back to deliver his best bets from across the pond. 

Check out his US racing tips for Friday below.

21:22 Churchill Downs (Race 8) - Rock'n A Halo @ SP

This is an interesting race. The comebacking Green Light (6) is likely to go off favoured after some fine efforts in stakes last year. He did well to win at Keeneland in October after blowing the start.

That was his last race. If he is fit, he may take some beating. Oh Really (10) makes the same step up in class as him after winning an entry level allowance here last month. He overcame a wide trip and is unexposed over route distances and on the turf. There may be better to come from him.

Johny's Fireball (4) and St. Armands Key (3) ran third and fourth at this level over nine furlongs here last month. The first named seems to save his best efforts for this turf track. He and St. Armands Key (3) looks solid place chances.

The last named may be suited by the slightly shorter distance. Unlike that pair, Orizzonte (2) may have his better races ahead of him. He is a lightly raced four year old who won well on the dirt last month. He’s never raced on turf. His dam won on the grass and she has produced turf winners.

This may be a good spot to have a small interest on a horse at a price. My two against the field need contrasting pace scenarios. Accredit (8) would be suited by being on or close to soft early fractions. He has the back form to contend.

His comeback can be ignored as he didn’t stay a mile and a half. Rock'n a Halo (1) cuts back from the same distance. He is a bit pace dependent over this trip but packs a powerful late kick when he gets speed to chase down.

The very sharp Echo Lane (13) is a player if he gets in this race from the reserve list.

21:55 Churchill Downs (Race 9) - You Ain't Poppn @ SP

Airborne Elite (10) is likely to be a clear cut favourite for the nightcap. He has been placed in his last two starts in similar races to this one. The pair that beat him last time had good form going into the race.

The slight cut back in distance will suit and he now has the blinkers back on. He has had quite a few tries at winning career race number two. That is always a worry when having take a short price. He’s without question the horse to beat though. His stablemate Handsome Herb (9) finished well behind him last time. If he runs to his wide margin maiden claiming win in April, he can go close.

Saffie Joseph is another trainer double handed in here. Both his runners are of interest. His Ruleroftheuniverse (8) was claimed by him off a wide margin maiden claimer score early last year. Then he went to the sidelines.

Joseph has a good record with lay off runners so his chance has to be respected. His stablemate You Ain't Poppn (5) has been away almost as long. He has back form in better races than this one. Some nice workouts in Florida and the fact he won on debut are pointers to him being ready to fire. He gets the vote.

Illini (3), Graydaria (4) and One Mor Story (1) come off placed efforts in cheaper claimers than this one. They probably need the more talented runners to run below form to get more than a minor award. One Mor Story (1) may improve cutting back in distance. His stablemate Vertrauen (2) is more realistically spotted dropping sharply in class.

Mo Hair Sam (6) has a stakes placing on The Tapeta to his name. So far, he has not been able to come near that run on dirt.

22:16 Belmont At The Big A (Race 9) - La Grotte @ SP

The one-two from a $40,000 claimer for one time winners at Pimlico reoppose. In the race over five furlongs last month, Mendrel (4) beat Lady d'Oro (6) by just under a length. The extra ground here will suit the runner up.

She needs to be produced late and Joel Rosario is the type of rider to do that. That said, the winner may confirm the confirm the form. She was getting back to her debut best running first time for trainer Brittany Russell. The five year old has only had four career starts so there may be better to come from her.

Quick Power Nap (1) and Linarite (2) have recent and playable from on this turf track. The first named ran third in a similar event to this one on her comeback. Linarite (2) came from some way back to beat a field of New York breds over course and distance. That was a better run than it looks as she had to be checked when making her move in the straight.

Quite a lot of these fillies and mares are making the dirt to turf switch. Broadway Lights (7) shaped well on the grass early in her career. So did Bam's Bliss Kiss (8) who ran third on debut on the turf. Her stablemate Delightful Flame (3) has a long lay off to defy. She looked promising for Wes Ward last year, winning back to back races.

Cdakhat (5) won a claimer in the mud here last month. She did run well in her one start sprinting on the turf. The three year old could be part of a crowded front end with the likes of the in form Dashing Della (9).

That may suit La Grotte (10). She didn’t stay a mile on dirt last time. Her new trainer switches her to a surface she’s ran well on in the past and cuts her back in trip. She may outrun her odds here.

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Paul Quigley is a long-time US racing fan and tipster. He provides US Horse Racing Tips for Betfred Insights as well as working for Betfred TV...