ITV Racing tips for Good Friday – Race by Race Predictions from Newcastle and Lingfield

David has gone through all 10 of the live ITV races for Good Friday and has a prediction for each of them. The action comes from the All-Weather meetings at Lingfield and Newcastle.

Believe it or not, there was a time, not so long ago, when Good Friday was one of four blank days on the British racing calendar. How times change! ITV Racing offers a veritable feast of Bank Holiday action so, in search of rich pickings, we’ve put some tasty selections on the table.

 

Newcastle

 

2:15 Gosforth Handicap

Charles Hills’ lightly-raced 4-year-old Dulas made virtually all the running to win, unchallenged, over 6 furlongs on his only previous visit to Newcastle, as a juvenile. His four subsequent efforts, including two on Polytrack, have been less encouraging, but he has been gelded since the last of them, at Kempton in November. The return to Tapeta could show him in better light, especially as his pedigree suggests 7 furlongs is well within his compass.

Selection: Dulas (7/1 with Paddy Power)

 

2:50 Betway Handicap

Topweight Global Warming has won two of his three starts, both over course and distance, for Chris Dwyer and is actually 2lb better off – not including Harry Burns’ 7lb claim – for the half a length he beat Devil’s Angel in a similar race last month. Devil’s Angel has since won twice over course and distance, so the form looks strong; there appears no reason why Global Warming cannot continue his resurgence.

Selection: Global Warming (9/4 with bet365)

 

3:25 Ladbrokes Burradon Stakes

Legion Of Honour hasn’t been seen in public since November, when winning an ordinary novice stakes race over 7 furlongs here with plenty in hand, but had finished a close second behind Devious Company in a similar race at Haydock on his racecourse debut in June. Devious Company was twice placed in Group Two company thereafter so, if the earlier form is reliable, Legion Of Honour has little, or nothing, to find with the best of these.

Selection: Legion Of Honour (7/4 with William Hill)

 

4:00 Ladbrokes ‘Play 1-2-Free’ On Football Handicap

A tight little handicap despite the small field, with preference for Glen Again, who beat Defined by three-quarters of a length in a maiden, over a mile and a quarter, at Chelmsford in January and reopposes on 1lb better terms. He has to prove he stays an additional 2½ furlongs, but has twice run well at Newcastle and looks the safest play.

Selection: Glen Again (11/8 with bet365)

 

Lingfield

 

2:00 Betway All-Weather Marathon Championships Conditions Stakes

Rainbow Dreamer is the best of these, according to official ratings, and boasts an excellent 60% strike rate on the all-weather. Now an 8-year-old, he proved his well-being when winning a ‘Fast-Track Qualifier’ at Kempton last month and, although yet to run at Lingfield, he is, frankly, hard to oppose.

Selection: Rainbow Dreamer (11/4 with William Hill)

 

2:35 Ladbrokes All-Weather Fillies’ And Mares’ Championships Conditions Stakes

Indie Angel took her form to a new level when comfortably beating the 105-rated Lavender’s Blue over a mile here in October and, although the drop back to 7 furlongs is possibly not ideal, she must take a deal of beating if fit and ready to do herself justice after five months off. The daughter of Dark Angel has officially improved by 25lb since last June, but may yet have more to offer.

Selection: Indie Angel (Evens with William Hill)

 

3:10 Betway All-Weather Sprint Championships Conditions Stakes

Lampang has twice been beaten in 5-furlong handicaps, at Wolverhampton and Southwell, since finishing a highly creditable second to Good Effort over course and distance in November. However, that form has worked out well enough to make the lightly-raced 4-year-old of interest on just his second attempt on Polytrack; reunited with Silvestre De Sousa, in a competitive heat, he could go well at rewarding odds.

Selection: Lampang (15/2 with Ladbrokes)

 

3:45 Ladbrokes 3 Year Old All-Weather Championships Conditions Stakes

Mighty Ghurka was impressive when winning by 7½ lengths over course and distance on his racecourse debut last June and remains unbeaten on Polytrack. So far, his best form has come at Kempton, where he won the Group Three Sirenia Stakes, over 6 furlongs, last September, albeit by the narrowest margin. However, while Lingfield may not be the easiest course on which to execute his customary front-running tactics, it will take a smart performance to lower his colours.

Selection: Mighty Ghurka (7/2 with Coral)

 

4:15 Betway Easter Classic All-Weather Middle Distance Championships Conditions Stakes

A slightly underwhelming turnout for a race worth £100,000 in guaranteed prize money, but Bangkok beat subsequent Winter Derby winner Forest Of Dean over course and distance on his penultimate start last month and can do so again on identical terms. Only eighth of 14, behind subsequent Sheema Classic winner Mishriff, in the Saudi Cup at Riyadh two weeks later, Andrew Baldings’s 5-year-old should appreciate the return to calmer waters here.

Selection: Bangkok (5/4 with William Hill)

 

4:45 Bombardier All-Weather Mile Championships Conditions Stakes

Last, but by no means least, the lightly-raced Khuzaam has finished out of the first two just once in his nine-race career, when failing to stay a mile and a quarter at Newmarket as a 3-year-old. Rather frustratingly, the son of champion US sire Kitten’s Joy has finished second five times, but has plenty of form on Polytrack, including at Listed level, and looks genuine enough.

Selection: Khuzaam (11/4 with bet365)

 

ITV Racing Free Bets for Good Friday

Bet £10 on the 2.00pm at Lingfield and you get:

• £5 free bet 2.15pm
• £5 free bet 2.35pm
• £5 free bet 2.50pm
• £5 free bet 3.10pm
• £5 free bet 3.25pm
• £5 free bet 3.45pm
• £5 free bet 4.00pm

 

This offer is open to new 888Sport customers and it gives you a total of seven free £5 bets to use on the rest of today’s ITV Racing and any other races you wish.

CLAIM YOUR £35 IN FREE BETS HERE

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