As the temperature drops, the racing action heats up with a compelling Friday card featuring meetings at both Ascot and Catterick. Horse racing correspondent Jonathan Doidge has analysed the form to bring you four targeted selections for your betting consideration.
Ascot Selections for Your Friday Bet
The first of a two-day meeting at Ascot kicks off with several intriguing contests. Our focus begins with the Join Ladbrokes Bet £5 Get £30 Handicap Chase at 14.00.
In this race, the tip is YOUR DARLING. This veteran gelding, trained by Ben Pauling, hasn't been seen since May 2024 but arrives with a perfect record at this track, having won this very race in both 2022 and 2023. His form when fresh is excellent, and despite being higher in the handicap, his career-best performance last time out suggests he can still be competitive. The main dangers appear to be Lord Baddesley and Royal Jewel.
Ascot tip 1: Your Darling (Ascot, 14.00) – 1pt win @ 2/1 (William Hill)
Fortune Awaits in the Handicap Hurdle
Next, the Ascot Partners Handicap Hurdle at 14.35 features FORTUNE DE MER. Trainer Dan Skelton withdrew this horse from Cheltenham last week due to the ground, but conditions here should be more suitable. With the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival as the long-term goal, a win here is crucial to ensure a qualifying mark. His recent Grade 2 victory at Cheltenham demonstrates the required class.
Ascot tip 2: Fortune De Mer (Ascot, 14.35) – 2pts win @ 6/4 (bet365)
An Each-Way Opportunity in the Staying Chase
The Ladbrokes Best Odds Guaranteed In Racing Handicap Chase at 15.10 presents a chance for a value bet with AWAYTHELAD. While he was pulled up on his reappearance at Cheltenham, he has previously bounced back from poor runs with strong performances. If he can recapture his best form, his current mark makes him a compelling each-way proposition at a generous price.
Ascot tip 3: Awaythelad (Ascot, 15.10) – 0.5pts each-way @ 16/1 (Ladbrokes)
Catterick's Early Tip
Shifting focus to the north, the action at Catterick includes the Racing To School Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Chase at 12.07.
The selection here is the locally-trained WASTHATOK. This horse is largely unexposed over fences and comes into the race in excellent form, having romped to a six-length victory over hurdles at Newcastle just last Friday. If he can translate that hurdles form to the larger obstacles, his current handicap mark of 94 could look very lenient indeed.
Catterick Tip: Wasthatok (Catterick, 12.07) – 1pt win @ 2/1 (bet365)
A Vital Reminder on Responsible Gambling
If you are planning to place a bet on Friday's racing, it is absolutely essential to gamble responsibly. Always set a strict budget beforehand and never chase your losses. It is easy to get carried away with sign-up offers, but these should be approached with caution.
All reputable UK gambling sites offer tools to help you stay in control, including deposit limits and time-outs. If you are concerned about your gambling, free support and advice are available immediately from organisations like GamCare and BeGambleAware.
Please remember that gambling should be entertaining, not a way to make money, and you should only ever bet what you can afford to lose. All odds were correct at the time of publication but are subject to change.
