All of the latest UK racing tips for Friday 21 April’s meetings at Ayr, Newbury and Bath!
AYR
Race 1 – AFADIL 3/1
The Scottish Grand National meeting begins at Ayr, where the best bet on the first day is Paul Nicholls’ AFADIL in the Remus Uomo Handicap Hurdle. While he is a four-year-old taking on his elders, he was only beaten by stablemate Blueking D’Oroux at Ascot and that one went close to following up at Aintree last week. Forcing Bull makes his handicap debut following an emphatic win over two-miles-and-a-furlong at Sedgefield last month and is feared, while Traprain Law and Shelikesthelights add further spice to the race.
NEWBURY
Race 4 – MILITARY ORDER 8/11
MILITARY ORDER can book his place in a Derby trial by winning the this novice stakes. The Charlie Appleby-trained colt is a full brother to his Derby and King George-winning stablemate Adayar, so when he made his racecourse debut last season there was plenty of chat about him.
Sent off an odds-on favourite at Newmarket, plenty were disappointed that he could only finish fourth – but the winner, Enfjaar, is potentially smart albeit he has not been seen since due to a setback. There is no doubt the form is of the highest calibre, as the second, third, Military Order himself in fourth and the fifth all won next time out.
Odds-on again, he was always in control next time, with William Buick resorting to only one flick of the whip on his way to victory. That was over a mile and as Adayar comfortably stays 12 furlongs, this step up to 10 furlongs is just what he needs.
Race 5 – PRINCE ALEX 16/1 (E/W)
PRINCE ALEX can strike on his first start for Tom Dascombe in this handicap test. Now six, in his days with Ralph Beckett he rattled off a five-timer rising from 63 to 86, showing a liking for soft ground. Sent to Michael Bell, he won a valuable race at Glorious Goodwood off 89 before having just one outing for Johnny Murtagh in Ireland. He is now back down to his last winning mark and holds a Chester Cup entry, but to ensure he gets a run in that he will need to win this.
Race 6 – TAFREEJ 2/1
The handicapper may have underestimated William Haggas’ TAFREEJ by giving him a mark of 84 ahead of this handicap outing. The Shamardal colt looked all at sea when only sixth behind Guineas hope Sakheer on his debut, but caught the eye when third on his second outing at Newbury. It was no surprise when he won next time out at Yarmouth. Haggas steps him up to seven furlongs with his pedigree suggesting that the distance should suit.
Race 7 – FAKHAMA 7/4
Stablemate FAKHAMA also looks a likely type on paper ahead of this maiden fillies stakes. This daughter of Kingman is closely related to Haggas’ five-time winner Mujtaba who is rated 114.
BATH
Race 4 – HAPPY ROMANCE 4/1
HAPPY ROMANCE drops markedly in class and can get back to winning ways in the fourth at Bath this evening. It is brave to keep a five-year-old mare in training but she still appears to hold all of her ability. A fine fourth over seven furlongs, which stretches her, in Saudi Arabia, she was then not beaten too far in a top-class race at Meydan. It is a while since she raced over five furlongs and she has a bad draw, but she is undoubtedly the class act.
