Today's Racing Tips: Mark Milligan has five strong fancies on an action-packed Friday

Brighton, 14:30 - Back Recon Mission @ 13/27.50

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Recon Mission (Ire)

• J: George Downing
• T: Tony Carroll
• F: 63732-665

• SBK 11/2
• EXC 1.1

There's decent money on offer for what is only a low-grade handicap, and I'm hopeful that a drop in grade can see Tony Carroll's veteran sprinter Recon Mission bounce back to form for the first time this season.

The 10-year-old hasn't fired in three starts so far this term, but I suspect he's no back number just yet, and it's worth noting that all those starts this campaign have come at higher levels than this contest.

Although it's been over a year since Recon Mission last got his head in front, he showed plenty of the old spark remains when runner-up on his final 2025 start, that coming form mark 5lb higher than he races off here.

This will be his first foray into 0-55 company, which should give him every chance of getting back on song.

Notable winners from Mark in recent weeks

Galen @ 4/1
Infraad @ 10/3
Free World @ 3/1
Enceladus @ 11/4
Flora Of Bermuda @ 9/4
Sixty Plus @ 2/1
Pure Passion @ 9/2

Thirsk, 15:40 - Back Qila @ 8/19.00

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Qila

• J: Ben Robinson
• T: Brian Ellison
• F: 54-20

• SBK 8/1
• EXC 1.1

A bit has to be taken on trust with Qila, but he should be a decent price in this sprint up against some in-form rivals, and there's enough in his form to suggest he might not be badly treated from his current mark of 71.

Brian Ellison's gelding has made only four starts to date, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with the form of his runner-up finish at Newcastle two starts ago, where he split a pair who are now rated and 88 and 76.

He disappointed on his only start after that and has been given a second breathing operation since, while it's worth noting that that good Newcastle run came on the back of a first wind op.

If that does the trick, Qila could well be a spot of value here.

Thirsk, 16:10 - Back Sudu @ 5/23.50

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Sudu

• J: Ray Dawson
• T: Roger Varian
• F: 54/5418-

• SBK 5/2
• EXC 1.11

With the ongoing dry spell, small fields are a constant theme of late, and we have another one to contend with in this 1m 4f handicap, the feature race of Thirsk's Friday card.

However, despite only attracting six runners, this has a competitive look to it, so I'm hopeful that Roger Varian's returning Sudu will be a decent enough price.

The four-year old is still unexposed after making just six starts and he looked a horse going places when landing an Epsom handicap by seven lengths last summer before disappointing on his next outing.

Presumably, all wasn't well that day as we haven't seen him since, but it looks significant connections are persevering with him and fitness is rarely an issue with runners from this yard.

I'm hopeful Sudu can get back on track with the break under his belt.

Haydock, 18:18 - Back Edward Sexton @ 7/24.50

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Edward Sexton (Ire)

• J: Mr David Dunsdon
• T: Gary & Josh Moore
• F: 677-76

• SBK 5/2
• EXC 1.1

Edward Sexton has the look of a staying handicapper who could take off now he's stepped up markedly in trip and he can take off in this 1m 6f amateur riders handicap for the Gary & Josh Moore team/David Dunsdon.

A bumper winner back in spring 2025, he was then thought good enough to contest a strong race at Punchestown, though did show signs of temperament that day and ran out, though I'm prepared to put that down to lingering greenness.

The selection made his first three flat starts over inadequate trips after which the handicapper refused to allot him a mark, clearly fearful he could be underestimated once going up in trip. However, he was given a mark after his reappearance run when seventh to Constitution Hill at Kempton in March, though dropping back to 1m 2f in his first handicap last time was clearly no use to one who stays well.

Today's trip will be much more in Edward Sexton's wheelhouse and, if he retains the bumper ability he showed last year, he has the capacity to bolt up from a mark of just 65.

Mark Milligan's bet of the day: Haydock, 20:38 - Back Tokyo Joe @ 9/43.25

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Tokyo Joe

• J: Tom Marquand
• T: Ed Walker
• F: 35821-641

• SBK 9/4
• EXC 1.1

The case for the bet of the day, Tokyo Joe, in the last is a relatively straightforward one.

He's a handicapper on the up who probably hasn't reached his ceiling just yet and the form of his recent Ffos Las success has been well advertised with both the second and third going in since.

Ed Walker's four-year-old had made the frame in a much stronger race at York prior to that win in South Wales and he very much made the most of the drop in grade to score with something in hand despite the relatively narrow winning margin.

This race is a little deeper than the Ffos Las one, though not markedly so, and I'm confident that Tom Marquand can guide Tokyo Joe to a follow-up success.

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