We have two runners on Friday, with Red Amapola going to Musselburgh, and Irv making a return visit to Haydock.
Red Amapola goes to post at 4.55.pm, in a 0-55 handicap over seven furlongs, where the going at the time of writing is good, good to firm in places. Red Amapola has had her three qualifying runs in decent novice company, showing enough to suggest that the ability is there to be competitive in handicap company. She has been allotted an opening mark of 51, and we should learn a great deal from this run, with Joanna Mason who rode her on her debut, back in the saddle.
Irv is our other representative at Haydock in their first race at 5.20.pm, a 0-70 Female Amateur riders race over 10 furlongs, with Becky Smith in the saddle for the first time. Irv is becoming a very frustrating character, he has run well on all of his six previous starts this season, just coming up short each time. This step up in trip of two furlongs could be the key, as he is being outpaced when running at a mile. He has been dropped a further 1lb to 69, and the predicted good, good to firm surface will not be a problem.
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Good luck to the connections, Miss Rebecca Dennis, and Irvine Lynch.