Horse racing tips: Dave Nevison's best bets for Friday
Dave Nevison has been in winning form this week, with five winners from his past seven selections, and has three bets for Friday's action at Haydock and Pontefract. Watch both meetings live on Racing TV!
Simon Walker is still a force in these amateur rider contests and the fact he has already scored on Study The Stars this season just edges it for me to side with his mount in a very competitive race.
The four-year-old did win for Sylvester Kirk last season but definitely looks to have improved since joining George Baker and has progressed with each run this season.
Although his victories have all come on the all-weather, he has shown form on turf, and I don’t expect Haydock to prove any issue for him plus this trip will be ideal.
He’s never run a bad race at Haydock and recorded his sole victory on turf over this course and distance.
He produced an encouraging effort when returning to this track off a rating 8lb below his last winning mark last time out, so the signs are positive, despite the fact he has been raised a pound since.
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Macho Pride gets on well with Harrison Shaw and seems to have been running himself into form this spring, which is often the way with sprint handicappers.
His trainer, Ben Haslam, is certainly hitting form and several of his handicappers, including those sent off a decent price, have either won, or finished placed, so a good run can definitely be expected.
9.00 Pontefract: Ventura Express
He looks a bet here returning to the only track he has won at. After winning here in June 2021, he was raised to a mark in the mid 80’s and, although he was consistently running well, he didn’t manage to score again after his victory last year.
He is now below a rating of 80 and contests a lower grade than he has been in for a while on Friday, so he should be able to capitalise on that falling mark after a promising run at Thirsk on his seasonal return, where he was bumped at the start.
Paul Hanagan was placed on the selection the only previous time he has rode him and if Ventura Express comes on for that reappearance effort, which seems likely, then he has a lot in his favour here.
