Horse Racing Tips: Two handicappers to back for 35/1 Newmarket double

• Newmarket the focus on Friday

• Headgear off can help Beckett runner

• 5/1 selection in second leg

Rossa red hot and rides for Ralph

15:00 Newmarket

Back Star Of Orion @ 9/2

Two thirds at Salisbury in yesterday's column although failing to get the winner of the 1m6f race was frustrating as the 6/5 favourite for Harry Fry got beaten.

Once again, following Fry's horses offers zero value in the betting, even when they're not jumping. Keep that in mind for the future.

Plenty of Godolphin runners greet us for the opening day of the Newmarket Guineas meeting, although surprisingly I am eschewing one early in favour of Ralph Beckett's Star Of Orion in the 7f Handicap at 15:00.

This looks wide open despite the relatively small field, and one of the contenders Accidental Agent has been a grand horse, but he's a 9yo and not quite as good as he used to be despite still holding a three-figure rating. That takes some doing at his age.

Star Of Orion would have a great chance on his fourth at Ascot last September from a mark of 94, and his runner-up spot in a 7f race on the July Course at HQ.

Quick ground suits, but he has a tendency to miss the break and ruin his chance at the start. I am hoping the small field will result in less of a pace and he'll have a bit more time to get into it.

His jockey Rossa Ryan could hardly be in better form following a Salisbury treble yesterday.

The selection has eased a little in the weights and with the headgear left off today, he looks a better bet than some of his rivals.

Arthur's good handicap form is a positive

17:20 Newmarket

Back Arthurs Realm @ 5/1

Another handicap go with the second selection today at HQ, and another fairly open race with a "10/3 the field" market.

Arthur's Realm enjoyed a good season last term in competitive handicaps and improved 10lb in 2022 with a series of placed efforts and a win at Doncaster.

He's a strong stayer at 1m and his best form is on soft ground. Rain is forecast for the day, let's hope the weather gods do their work with some easier ground by the end of the race card.

Arthur's Realm has some form on officially good, and he's been eased in the weights a little after finding the deep ground far too much at the Lincoln meeting last time.

He travelled beautifully at Doncaster last March and at 5/1, should present a trade as a lay back from your stake as he'll get a nice tow in this as Azano can lead and several like to be up with the pace.