Newsboy's Nap selection for Friday is Hickory (7.37), who can follow up his last-time-out success with victory at Newmarket this evening. The eight-year-old won a valuable handicap at Ascot over the straight mile, relishing the fast gallop to arrive late and score by half a length.
Hickory's Ascot form
It was the third win at the track for the Jamie Osborne-trained gelding, who clearly thrives at Ascot. But he has also won at Kempton and Yarmouth, so the July course, where he had excuses two starts ago, should be no issue off just a 2lb higher mark.
Fast Track at Newbury
At Newbury, the Listed St Hugh's Stakes has drawn 13 two-year-old fillies with a range of experience. Preference is for Fast Track (5.23, NB), one of the more seasoned challengers from the Andrew Balding stable.
She has already had five starts, winning at the fourth attempt when long odds-on for a novice event at Beverley. Fast Track took a big step forward at Glorious Goodwood, where contesting the prestigious Alice Keppel Conditions Stakes, she showed bags of pace to lead the field almost all the way until she was caught late by the favourite Wild Blossom.
A repeat of that effort should see her successful this evening.
