Rhys Williams' Racing Tips: 7 Selections For Friday
Horse racing expert Rhys Williams is sharing his best selections for Friday's action.
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 achieved a 31% ROI over 4.5 years.
He often focuses on the back end of the market, finding angles that aren't evident to most.
Rhys' tips have returned 405.88 points from 304.5 points staked, meaning his profit and loss record stands at a whopping +101.38pts overall - thanks to a recent 66/1 winner.
Here are Rhys' tips for today, using the most up-to-date odds from the best horse racing betting sites.
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13:30 Haydock: Easwrith Destiny - 0.5pt Win @ 16/1
The ground is very testing at Haydock this afternoon and I think that could bring an improved performance from Easwrith Destiny on his second start in a handicap.
He didn’t show too much on his first two starts before putting in a better display on similar ground to what he’s racing on today at Salisbury. He initially raced keenly under restraint but still managed to stay on well to finish second.
I think he wasn’t suited by the switch to the all weather for his handicap debut and he was poorly positioned that day so he could be capable of better now back on testing ground on turf.
He does have to show that he truly stays this far, but I think he could be capable of that if able to switch off early on and any 14/1 or bigger appeals.
Rhys' Selection 1: 13:30 Haydock: Easwrith Destiny - 0.5pt Win
15:47 Haydock: Moonstone Boy - 0.5pt Win @ 16/1
Moonstone Boy’s mark has been on the slide since joining Jennie Candlish, but I think he could be capable of a revival now returning from a break on testing ground.
He’s a multiple winner on soft ground and this is the first time that he’s raced on such ground since joining the yard.
He’s also shown in the past that he can run well fresh, with two close defeats when returning from breaks of over 180 days and his best for this yard so far was on his stable debut after returning from a 99-day absence.
It could be that Moonstone Boy will be better when the blinkers go back on or over a stiffer five furlongs, but I think he’s still a little overpriced under these circumstances with a likely good pace to close into and any 12/1 or bigger appeals.
Rhys' Selection 2: 15:47 Haydock: Moonstone Boy - 0.5pt Win
16:20 Haydock: Folkene - 0.5pt Win @ 14/1
Another horse who will be looking to close late at Haydock this afternoon is Folkene, who put in an eyecatching effort at Catterick last time.
She was dropped out in a detached last at the start and was still in last entering the home straight before making good late headway under only hands and heels riding to finish fourth.
Folkene does have to prove she can handle ground this testing, but she ran well at Doncaster when there was some cut in the ground and she ended up on the wrong part of the track.
Any 9/1 or bigger appeals.
Rhys' Selection 3: 16:20 Haydock: Folkene - 0.5pt Win
17:10 Bangor: Cappa Lass - 0.5pt Win @ 33/1
It’s no surprise to see Lucky In Taipan has been well supported this morning after a more encouraging effort last time, but one of his rivals appeals at a much bigger price.
Cappa Lass hasn’t been remotely competitive in three starts in maiden and novice hurdles but she showed a bit of promise in the middle of those at this track. There were three other horses who finished in her group and they are now rated 96, 102 and 86.
Prior to joining this yard, Cappa Lass finished second in a maiden point at Dromahane behind Fairy Park, who went on to finish third in the Grade 2 mares bumper at Aintree, while the third has won a maiden since.
That suggests that Cappa Lass has the potential to be better than a rating of 83 at some point in her career.
It may be that this will be further down the line, possibly when the hood is removed as she matures mentally, but I think let her go unbacked at such a big price in this contest and any 16/1 or bigger appeals.
Rhys' Selection 4: 17:10 Bangor: Cappa Lass - 0.5pt Win
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17:30 Down Royal: Arizonaneargalway - 0.5pt Win @ 25/1
Arizonaneargalway hasn’t been competitive at the finish in four starts in maidens but I think she could be capable of stepping up on that on her nursery debut.
She lost all chance at the start on her debut and then raced at two tracks with significant biases towards racing handily.
On her latest start at Naas, she raced a little detached from the main pack through the first half of the race before making late headway while not being given an overly hard ride in the closing stages.
I have a slight concern that Arizonaneargalway will be better on a left-handed track and it could be that she wants a bit further, but I think she has the potential to improve on an opening mark of 64 if not given so much to do and any 14/1 or bigger appeals.
Rhys' Selection 5: 17:30 Down Royal: Arizonaneargalway - 0.5pt Win
17:30 Down Royal: Dear Theodosia - 0.5pt Win @ 20/1
In the same nursery, I think Dear Theodosia has the potential to improve with blinkers going on for the first time.
She’s worn a hood in all three starts in maidens and it looked like she fell asleep in it last time at Leopardstown, when she was never really travelling and was given a reminder at halfway but she kept responding to finish ninth.
Her half-brother, Nakamura, won when blinkers were applied for the first time and it certainly looked like Dear Theodosia was in need of something to wake her up last time so hopefully the application of blinkers can do the trick and bring improvement from her.
There is the chance that she will be too lit up for such a big switch in headgear and maybe she’s just tricky, but I think the market is overlooking her chance of improving and any 14/1 or bigger appeals.
Rhys' Selection 6: 17:30 Down Royal: Dear Theodosia - 0.5pt Win
17:45 Kilbeggan: Starzov - 0.5pt Win @ 33/1
Starzov has been on the decline in the last couple of seasons, but I thought there were some more encouraging signs last time at Roscommon and he could run better than his big price suggests in this race.
He was returning to hurdles last time on his return to the track from a 352-day break and was given a very patient ride on the inside of the track. He couldn’t get competitive but made some late headway to finish seventh while racing on an unfavoured part of the track.
Starzov went without the cheekpieces that he had frequently been wearing and they are back on today so that could bring improvement from him and that first run after such an absence could have put him spot on for this.
It could be that he’s vulnerable to younger legs, but I think he’s a little overpriced in the circumstances and any 20/1 or bigger appeals.
Rhys' Selection 7: 17:45 Kilbeggan: Starzov - 0.5pt Win
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