Horse Racing Tips: Mark Milligan's five Friday selections up to 7/1

• Mark Milligan has selections at two tracks on Friday

• His best bet runs at Newcastle

• For the latest Betfair racing odds click here

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13:40 Newcastle - Back Bela Sonata @ 7/24.50

I'd like to say I've returned fresh from a brief mid-winter break, but as I sit here gripped by some kind of Gallic flu contracted while trudging around Disneyland Paris in the wet and snow last week, I'm hoping a winner or two can snap me out of my malaise.

I doubt the weather will be much better at Newcastle on Friday, but the action is sure to warm everyone's cockles as the track stages one of the best all-weather cards of the winter so far.

Let's kick off by backing the unexposed Bela Sonata, who has won two of her four starts, including when making a smooth transition to handicaps when last seen at Newbury in the summer.

That form was given several boosts subsequently and this looks a good starting point for the Paul & Oliver Cole-trained filly to kick off her 2026 season.

14:15 Newcastle - Back Ribble Vibe @ 7/18.00

Maintaining the French theme (albeit loosely), I'm taking David O'Meara's ex-Andre Fabre-trained Ribble Vibe to follow up his recent Wolverhampton success in this extended 2m handicap.

This five-year-old has taken a while to fully hit his straps since being purchased by his shrewd connections but his latest win gave every indication that he could be about to take off as a staying handicapper.

He'd run several good races prior to that smooth Wolverhampton success and, given he was value for extra over the bare winning margin there, a rise of 5lb still looks workable for the son of Sea The Stars.

14:50 Newcastle - Back Time Loop @ 9/25.50

William Haggas has gone a few weeks without a winner but, given he doesn't tend to run too many on the all-weather at this time of year, I'm not overly concerned by that stat.

We don't often see much of Tom Marquand at this time of year either, but he's making a rare foray to Newcastle for some fancied rides and Time Loop looks just about the pick of them.

This mare has made only three starts to date despite being a five-year-old and it looks significant that connections have decided to keep her in training when the breeding sheds would have been an attractive proposition for one who is already a winner and has a nice pedigree.

This isn't an easy spot to make her handicap debut but there should be plenty more progression to come from this daughter of Lope De Vega and she looks worth siding with.

15:55 Newcastle - Back Monarch's Gold @ 13/27.50

Speaking of well-bred sorts, the Juddmonte-owned Dartrey has taken off since being switched to handicaps by Ralph Beckett, recording a Southwell hat-trick in the first week of this month.

He'll be popular once again as he bids for the four-timer and it's hard to know exactly what his ceiling will be. However, this is a significantly stronger race than the ones he's been winning and he'll likely have to improve again to justify short odds.

With that in mind, I'm going to take a shot against him with Monarch's Gold, who cost a few quid himself and has won two of his three starts to date.

The son of Too Darn Hot was more workmanlike than impressive when winning his most recent start at Southwell in October, but he looks to have a nice attitude and appeals as the type to carry on progressing switched to handicaps.

16:05 Windsor - Back Gericault Roque @ 11/26.50

We've also got top jumps action on Friday as the Winter Millions gets underway at Windsor and the handicapper has given Gericault Roque a big chance in the closing 2m 6f handicap chase.

He's probably not the easiest to train nowadays (we only saw him twice last season) but it could well be significant that he ran well fresh at this meeting, finishing third in a novices' handicap returning from 26 months away.

His jumping rather went astray on his only other start last term, but it's a big bonus that the selection is proven fresh and his current mark of 128 looks more than workable given he's been rated as high as 139 in the past.

Now read Alan Dudman's antepost preview or Saturday's racing