Our horse racing tipster gives his best selections from Friday’s flat racing, including Chester’s feature race - the Group 2 Huxley Stakes.
Mr Hampstead (2:05pm, Chester)
This is an interesting race with Irish raider Ephesus a strong favourite, however that price does seem slightly unjustified.
He did stay on in his debut outing after not getting away the best but he was not lightly ridden to produce that result. Jockey Wayne Lordan fully got to work on him.
Therefore sticking with Mr Hampstead here definitely seems the way to go. He came fourth last time out in a similar race three weeks ago at Newbury.
The form of that race is strong, with the winner holding a Derby entry and the fifth having won comfortably since. He struggled to maintain a smooth rhythm in the final stages but stayed on, so the increase in trip could well help and he should break his maiden tag here at the third attempt.
Passenger (3:05pm Chester, Group 2 Huxley Stakes)
Passenger is a top-quality horse. He may have disappointed in the Derby when not taking to Epsom at all and being too keen, but the outing before that, at York in the Dante, he was an eye-catching third when not getting a clear run until late and then flying home.
His last race of 2023, a Group 3 win at Windsor, proved that his Dante performance was not a fluke and that his run in the Derby is simply likely to just be a blip on his record.
Not seen on the track since that win and remaining very lightly-raced, he can win this on reappearance with conditions likely to play in his favour as he loves a fast going and good/firm track.
Redhot Whisper (5:27pm, Nottingham)
This is a fairly strong novice contest for a Class 5 race, with most possessing some experience as well as some interesting newcomers. Aviemore out of Kodiac as well as Pipes And Drums for the Godolphin yard could impress but the one to watch is definitely Redhot Whisper.
The three-year-old gelding came third on debut last year before improving to come second in a valuable maiden stakes race in September.
He made his seasonal reappearance last month at Chelmsford, where he came last out of eight but that race can be forgiven.
That was a much more difficult affair than this race and he pulled quite hard and weaved about that day. Provided he gets some much needed cover here, he should be able to break his maiden tag in these calmer waters.
