ITV’s cameras are at Newmarket, York and Chepstow on Friday, and we have a selection in each of the live races.
FRIDAY’S ITV RACING TIPS
- 13:15 Newmarket – Flann Sunna
- 13:50 Newmarket – Golden Ring
- 14:05 York – Dontlookanyfurther
- 14:25 Newmarket – Flora Of Bermuda
- 14:40 York – Harper Violet
- 14:57 Newmarket – Musical Times
- 15:12 Chepstow – Laafi
- 15:30 Newmarket – Study With Words
- 15:43 Chepstow- North Shore
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13:15 Newmarket 5f (Rowley) Newmarket Academy Godolphin Beacon Project Cornwallis Stakes (Group 3) (Class 1) (2yo)
A competitive start to the opening race at Newmarket on Friday, and FLANN SUNNA for the Simon & Ed Crisford team will look to step up on its third-place finish last time out in the Flying Childers at Doncaster. She was hampered at the start and disputed the lead inside the final furlong only to weaken out of the equation close home.
Selection: Flann Sunna
13:50 Newmarket 7f (Rowley) Godolphin Lifetime Care Oh So Sharp Stakes (Group 3) (Fillies) (Class 1) (2yo)
GOLDEN RING impressed at Dundalk last Friday night, breaking her maiden and she could take the step up in grade in her stride. The form of her second start has worked out well, as the winner Alpine Wedding finished second to Curracloe in the Darley Fillies Stakes. While it is a quick turnaround for the filly, she could get involved in the finish.
Selection: Golden Ring
14:05 York 7f British EBF £100,000 Final (Colts & Geldings) (Class 2) (2yo)
John & Sean Quinn sends DONTLOOKANYFURTHER to this final, and his novice victory was standout at Thirsk; he recorded an RPR of 88 to win by over four lengths going away from his rivals. He would start 2/1f at Ayr on his next start and would disappoint, and if that can be overlooked, he could come back to form here. The trainer’s rep could not explain the form shown on that occasion.
Selection: Dontlookanyfurther
14:25 Newmarket 7f (Rowley) Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards Challenge Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1) (3yo+)
The standout on form here looks to be FLORA OF BERMUDA for the title-chasing Andrew Balding team. This mare has been in consistent form this season winning at Listed and Group company of late. Her last run showed the form she has been in when finishing second to More Thunder at Doncaster. She recorded an RPR of 113 in the process, and if she can follow that up here, she will be tough to pass.
Selection: Flora Of Bermuda
14:40 York 1m6f (1m5f188y) Finale Handicap (GBBPlus Race) (Class 2) (3yo 0-105)
The representative from the Karl Burke team here is HARPER VIOLET, and on her fourth start she could take a step forward, upped in grade. Her debut wasn’t without promise when she finished third to Lilt at Doncaster. That form would receive a substantial boost when Lilt finished second to Thundering On in the Moyglare ”Jewels” Blandford Stakes (Group 2) when last seen. Harper Violet won by eight lengths last time, and the further she went, the better she looked. If she improves again, she will be tough to keep out of the frame.
Selection: Harper Violet
14:57 Newmarket 1m (Rowley) Fillies’ Mile (Group 1) (Class 1) (2yo)
MUSICAL TIMES looks like an above-average filly and showed that dominance in the May Hill at Doncaster last time out. The RPR of 111 showed her in a very good light, and if she improves again, she will take plenty of beating. Charlie Appleby won this race in 2024 with Desert Flower, and that filly went on to 1000 Guineas success in 2025. If Musical Times wins here and does it in impressive fashion, it should propel her closer to Sun Goddess for Classic success next season.
Selection: Musical Times
15:12 Chepstow 2m (2m16y) ‘Welsh Champion’ Hurdle (A Limited Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 2) (5yo+)
A very competitive field will go to post for the Welsh Champion Hurdle, and it could be a prize that goes for export. Bill Durkan and Philip Byrnes will send LAAFI to post here, and based on an eighth-place finish in the Galway Hurdle last time out, he looks like one of the main contenders here. He was second in the Swinton Hurdle at Haydock the time before, when only beaten a neck and it was more than likely the jump at the last that would cost him the race.
Selection: Laafi
15:30 Newmarket 1m4f (Rowley) bet365 Old Rowley Cup Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (GBBPlus Race) (Class 2) (3yo)
Charlie Appleby has won this race three times since 2016 and looks to have a solid contender in STUDY WITH WORDS, who has been gelded since his last run 77 days ago. He was a 15-length winner of his maiden at Newmarket back in October 2025 and looks the type with more improvement to come. He has been gelded since his last run, and while he was keen and hung left in his races to date, that should iron out the issues.
Selection: Study With Words
15:43 2m3½f (2m3f100y) Persian War Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+)
Dan Skelton is sure to have his team in top form at the start of the season, and a chance is taken with the former Gavin Cromwell trained NORTH SHORE. One win from four starts in his native France before he joined the Gavin Cromwell team, he was pitched into the deep end when finishing third to Narciso Has at Leopardstown over Christmas. He would follow that up with a fourth-place finish behind the same runner at the Dublin Racing Festival and went to the Triumph Hurdle as a 16/1 shot. He was beaten twenty-two lengths in the end.
He would break his maiden at Killarney on the 9th of May and looks a very interesting runner on debut for the Skelton team.
Selection: North Shore
ITV RACING TIPS
- 13:15 Newmarket – Flann Sunna
- 13:50 Newmarket – Golden Ring
- 14:05 York – Dontlookanyfurther
- 14:25 Newmarket – Flora Of Bermuda
- 14:40 York – Harper Violet
- 14:57 Newmarket – Musical Times
- 15:12 Chepstow – Laafi
- 15:30 Newmarket – Study With Words
- 15:43 Chepstow- North Shore
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