With plenty of action to look forward to on Friday, our expert editor has delved into the entries and highlighted three runners who have caught their eye across the cards. Check out the trio below, alongside an exclusive promotion courtesy of bet365, which is offering £50 In Free Bets to new customers, when you sign-up and bet £10.
Rushford (15:25 Nottingham, Weatherbys Bloodstock Pro Colwick Cup Handicap)
Trainer Sir Mark Prescott has long been associated with developing progressive staying types and while the key may not have been unlocked just yet with RUSHFORD, there is every reason to suggest that the three-year-old gelding is heading in the right direction after returning to winning ways over 1m6f at Sandown last month.
Prior to his second career success, Rushford had created a taking impression when shedding the maiden tag in handicap company at Windsor over the extended eleven furlongs in May off a mark of 68. Racing freely towards the rear of the six-runner field on that particular occasion, the lightly-raced three-year-old made smooth headway to deliver his challenge inside the closing stages and despite ultimately prevailing by just three parts of a length at the line, Sir Mark Prescott’s gelding was certainly value for much more than the official winning margin suggested.
Despite flopping over 1m5f on his penultimate start at Bath in June, Rushford looked right back to his best in first-time cheekpieces at Sandown just sixteen days ago. Seemingly unfancied in the market beforehand, the three-year-old belied his lengthy odds with a smart staying effort, gradually wearing down the longtime leader Pons Aelius on the run to the line to ultimately prevail by a head in the shadows of the post. Up 4lb to a mark of 78, connections will be confident that Rushford can take another step forward on his ascent up the handicapping ranks on Friday afternoon and he certainly looks capable of further improvement now tackling two miles for the very first time.
Muker (18:07 Thirsk, Join Our Bet Club At Vickers.Bet Handicap)
Trainer Paul Midgley runs two in this five-furlong handicap and while five-year-old Birkenhead has possibilities of bouncing back to winning ways in reapplied blinkers, it’s recent stable recruit MUKER who makes the most appeal. Formerly trained by Philip Makin, the gelded son of Mehmas burst onto the scene during his juvenile campaign two seasons ago, landing a maiden at Newcastle on his debut by a neck before taking his form to the next level when finding the frame in the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes and Group 3 Mercury Stakes.
Although Muker failed to scale those sorts of heights as a three-year-old last year, he certainly didn’t disgrace himself in his six outings and encountered some useful opponents along the way. Fourth behind the future Group sprinter Dragon Symbol at Hamilton last May, Muker rounded off his three-year-old campaign in August with another creditable effort in defeat, showing up well for a long way at York’s Ebor meeting before proving no match for Michael Dods’ progressive sprint handicapper Blackrod in the closing stages.
Given the yard’s record for improving such types, it would be no surprise to see Muker hit the ground running for new connections despite shouldering a 356-day absence. Rated 85, he also finds himself in Class 4 company for the first time in his career on Friday evening and it seems fairly significant that former rider Paul Mulrennan maintains the partnership ahead of the four-year-old’s seasonal reappearance.
Fulfilled (18:48 Newmarket, JenningsBet Britain’s Biggest Independent Bookmaker Handicap)
Despite struggling to show much spark in his three outings as a juvenile last season, FULFILLED has seemingly taken a huge step forward from two to three for trainer David Simcock this term.
Down the field in maiden and novice company last year, the gelded son of Ulysses was spotted making good late headway to finish third on his handicap debut at Wolverhampton over the extended mile back in May. Beaten three lengths after being slowly away, he built on that encouraging seasonal reappearance when getting off the mark over this course and distance on his following outing off a mark of 65. Stalking the leaders throughout under a typical ride from Jamie Spencer, Fulfilled quickened up much the best approaching the final furlong and was ultimately well on top crossing the line despite the narrow winning margin.
Expected to follow up under a 3lb penalty last time out at Sandown, David Simcock’s charge endured a troubled passage when trying to deliver his challenge on the far-side rail. Caught behind the two leaders with a furlong to go, Jamie Spencer’s mount failed to find the gaps inside the closing stages and was ultimately never asked for maximum effort when beaten 1½ lengths back in third.
Granted better luck in running on Friday evening, Fulfilled appears to have plenty of boxes ticked as he lines up off the same mark of 68 and with the majority of his eight rivals struggling to find form in their recent starts, David Simcock’s three-year-old should be able to come home in front and record a second course and distance success.
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