Friday Racing Tips: Three big-priced plays at Newmarket and York

I won't lie. My heart did sink when I saw that two-year-old races accounted for three of the five races at Newmarket on Channel 4 on Friday afternoon.

As regular readers will know, when juvenile races are on, my punting switch is invariably turned off, but I did try. Honest.

My assessment of the two-year-old races

I was actually half-tempted by Battaash at the prices in the Cornwallis at 13:35.

Connections have always held this horse in the highest regard but he clearly has a mind of his own, and is a bit of a tearaway, even though he was gelded after playing up in the stalls at Royal Ascot.

But if his raw ability can be channelled then he could surprise. He showed blistering early pace when third in a Haydock nursery off 96 last time - he did remarkably well to stick on for a place once headed - and he shapes as if he is better than he has shown.

However, he won't get his own way out in front here against a better grade of horse - Yalta and Courage Under Fire won't be hanging around either - and he could burn himself out once again if he doesn't settle better.

The obvious horses head the market, and there just doesn't seem to be a betting angle into the race.

The Oh So Sharp Stakes at 14:05 looks impossible.

Andre Fabre is largely having a season to forget but it could be significant that he sends Double Lady over to contest a race he won with his subsequent 1,000 Guineas winner Miss France in 2013.

But that is clearly a guessing game and one I am not willing to play with your money, let alone mine.

The Fillies' Mile at 15:10 is the other big juvenile race on the card and it features May Hill winner Rich Legacy, who was actually one of this column's rare 2yo bets when winning at Doncaster.

That form is solid but it lacked the potential brilliance of runaway Newmarket winner Sobetsu, or indeed the strength of the Irish fillies' Moyglare form.

In short, I haven't a clue what is going to win, and it wouldn't surprise me if Haydock maiden winner Fleabiscuit ran a big race at around 20-1. But no bet, if you hadn't already guessed.

It doesn't get any easier in the Group 2 Challenge Stakes at 14:40 where the usual 7f suspects gather once again, and are joined by three-year-old improvers like Aclaim and Tasleet.

On official ratings, especially when factoring in penalties for the two highest-rated performers in Cougar Mountain and Richard Pankhurst, you can throw a handkerchief over this 12-runner field form-wise and I'm not just interested at all.

Gifted Master has form figures of 121112 here and is rock-solid, but this race has held up more than I thought it might at the five-day stage and I can't see an enticing bet at the prices.

I have found a Newmarket bet, thank Gawd!

Thank God for the valuable three-year-old handicap at 15:45 as I am going to take a chance on Gawdawpalin at the price, even though there are two obvious negatives.

Being 2lb out of the handicap is one, as is the prospect of good to firm ground.

He is effectively 11lb higher than when doing us a 33-1 favour when bolting up over 1m2f at Epsom in June, too, but that race worked out so well that I am willing to give him another spin after two below-par runs since.

He may not have been at his best after a three-month break at Ascot and may not have been suited by the combination of soft ground and small field over 1m4f at Newbury last time.

But that Newbury run could have been better than it looked - it was a good time - and it also went some way to showing that he stays this trip well enough.

In fact, I think decent ground could be the key to his excelling over 1m4f, and I hope connections let him take his chance, as his pedigree suggests this trip should be within his compass. And it is good to see the stable have a couple of recent winners after a low-key September.

Back him at 34.033/1 or better.

And there's More to be found at York...

I make no apologies for putting up another old friend - though he is pushing that amicable status, I readily admit - in the shape of One Word More in the 14:20 at York.

As ever, there is no real story with One Word More. He is simply a largely consistent handicapper, who is gradually being eased down to a mark from which he is weighted to get his head in front again.

He has run some of his better races over course and distance, and 3lb claimer Rachel Richardson is back on board with something to prove.

The last time she rode the horse here in July she dropped her whip entering in the final furlong, and was beaten less than a length. That was off a 2lb higher mark than this, and the combination rate a fair bet at 17.016/1 or better to atone for that unfortunate mishap.

Keystroke is an obvious threat, relatively unexposed and thought to be better than his current handicap mark of 95. He is a bit of a gossip horse.

Course winner can Master the Knavesmire again

I was a little disappointed with Master Blueyes' fourth in the Melrose over track and trip last time, but the handicapper wasn't, as he upped him 1lb despite being beaten five lengths.

That was a pretty harsh piece of assessing but I do think that he is better than he showed last time - he really caught the eye at Goodwood the time before when meeting trouble in running - and I am going to give this course winner one more chance at around 15.014/1 in the 15:25.

Recommended Bets

Back One Word More @ 17.016/1 in 14:20 at York
Back Master Blueyes @ 15.014/1 in 15:25 at York
Back Gawdawpalin @ 34.033/1 in 15:45 at Newmarket