Rhys Williams' Racing Tips: 4 Selections For Friday
Horse racing expert Rhys Williams is sharing his best selections for today's racing.
Rhys has been a racing analyst for over 10 years, working for At The Races and most recently as a tipster for Betfair where his tipping column had a 31% ROI over four and a half years.
He often focuses away from the front end of the market, finding angles that aren't evident to most.
Thanks to his 50/1 winner at the Cheltenham Festival (Apolon De Charnie), Rhys has returned a profit of 88.43 points and his profit and loss record for the year stands at +12.93 points from 75.5 points staked.
Here are Rhys' tips for Friday, using the most up-to-date odds from the best horse racing betting sites.
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15:00 Newbury: Spirou - 0.5pt Win @ 14/1
Helnwein will find this easier company than he’s faced so far this season and may be too classy for the competition, but one of those rivals appeals at the prices as he returns from a very long absence.
Spirou hasn’t been seen since winning a three-year-old hurdle at Bordeaux in November 2023, but if he retains the ability he showed in his two starts for Thomas Fourcy, I think he could run well off a mark of 117.
He ran a promising hurdling debut at Bordeaux, when finishing strongly into second having been ridden patiently and not always jumping well.
He built on that when winning with plenty in hand over the same course and distance on his second start, running to a level quite a bit above his rating of 117.
There is the obvious concern that he might not be as good as he was back then, or he will need the run after such a long absence.
He may ideally want a stiffer test than he faces here, but the ability he showed in those two runs suggests he could be a bigger danger than the market thinks.
Any double-figure prices appeal.
Rhys' Selection 1: 15:00 Newbury - Spirou - 0.5pt Win
16:07 Newbury: Galop De Chasse - 0.5pt Win @ 33/1
Holetown appears to be Venetia Williams’ number one chance in this handicap chase, and she could build on her Ludlow success.
However, I think the market is overlooking the chance of her other representative.
Galop De Chasse’s form has gradually been on the decline since finishing third at this track off a 16lb higher mark in November last season.
He did, however, show a bit more at Bangor last time before taking quite a heavy fall at the last.
It’s difficult to know quite what to expect from the trainer’s horses, but they have at least been showing more promising signs of late than was the case for much of the season.
So, it could be that Galop De Chasse will suddenly burst back into life due to that, and I think the better ground may help his cause too.
There is a doubt over the trip and it might just be that he’s not as good as he was for whatever reason, but he looks overpriced in a race of this standard and any 16/1 or bigger appeals.
Rhys' Selection 2: 16:07 Newbury - Galop De Chasse - 0.5pt Win
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16:07 Newbury: Petty Cash - 0.5pt Win @ 9/1
The other one to appeal in the same race is Petty Cash who is now going back left-handed with professional handling, after finishing third in an amateur riders handicap at Ludlow last time.
He often jumped out to the left and his chance wasn’t helped by a bad mistake at four out.
That isn’t the first time that Petty Cash has done that, as he put in a similar mistake at four out at Chepstow earlier in the season when running very well to finish second to Ben Solo.
Petty Cash’s jumping is an obvious concern and his wind has been a problem at various times, but I think he will be suited by returning to a left-handed track and the likely strong pace should suit this strong-travelling type too.
Any 15/2 or bigger appeals.
Rhys' Selection 3: 16:07 Newbury - Petty Cash - 0.5pt Win
16:30 Musselburgh: Evenwood Sonofagun - 0.5pt Win @ 33/1
Lizzie Quinlan just missed getting off the cold list on Saturday when Bay Runner was narrowly beaten, but her horses are at least starting to show more encouraging signs after a disappointing season.
I think Evenwood Sonofagun could run well for her at a big price in this series final.
He won a couple of races in a row at Cartmel at the start of the season after having a wind op and ran respectably on both occasions when trying three miles at Perth in September, falling in the second of those at two out when still in contention.
Evenwood Sonofagun hasn’t built on that since, but the yard has been struggling and he at least travelled well into the home straight over course and distance last time before fading away.
Those poor runs mean he’s now off an 8lb lower mark than when finishing third over three miles at Perth in September.
While it might be that he will bounce back when Cartmel returns, I think the market is underestimating the chance of that revival starting here. Any 25/1 or bigger appeals.
Rhys' Selection 4: 16:30 Musselburgh - Evenwood Sonofagun - 0.5pt Win
All odds correct at time of publish.
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