Dave Nevison: My Friday tips for Newmarket and Goodwood

3.10 Newmarket: Alooqaal

This is a competitive Newmarket handicap with lightly-raced and well-fancied runners from the William Haggas and Charlie Appleby yards, but I still think it is worth chancing Alooqaal to upset the big names.

Mick Appleby has taken over the training of this horse and it is certainly no surprise that he seems to have brought about improvement, with both runs in this country since arriving from Ireland strong. Alooqaal won over seven furlongs on stable debut when backed into favourite at Kempton then ran at least as well when finishing second over a mile last time.

His turf mark has been left unchanged and he runs off a 6lb lower mark now. It definitely seems a gamble worth taking that his improved form is not confined to the all-weather.

5.01 Goodwood: Haseef

Haseef has been a big disappointment, but he has had a few excuses along the way and might be worth a small each-way punt at a price with a few things in his favour here.

He ran on heavy ground over five furlongs last time and that doesn’t help many horses, while additionally the slow pace makes me able to write off that Ffos Las effort. On his prior start he ran encouragingly, looking very much as though a step up from the minimum trip would help him.

Haseef is already 9lb lower than when running quite well over this course and distance back in June and, with a very strong pace predicted here, might be staying on strong enough in this grade to at least hit the frame.

Trainer Ed Walker is in excellent form.

6.10 Goodwood: Our Jester

Our Jester has won two bumpers and ran a good race to finish seventh in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham, so I have no concerns at all about him trying this trip on the Flat for the first time - in fact, it seems likely he will improve for it.

He was made odds-on for his handicap debut last time and travelled like the winner for most of the way, but he may have just taken up the running too early and got run out of it in punishing conditions.

Derby-winning jockey Richard Kingscote takes over for the bang in-form Hughie Morrison and off just a 2lb higher mark I expect Our Jester to break his maiden.