Friday Racing Tips: Key Timeform data including a 15/8 Horse In Focus at Newcastle

• He Is A Cracker goes well around Fontwell

• Lightly raced Axel Bleue can improve

• Bowood can back up impressive victory

Fontwell, 15:10 - 'Horses For Courses' He Is A Cracker can enhance Fontwell record

Fontwell's figure-of-eight chase course provides a unique test for horses but it is one that He Is A Cracker evidently copes well with given his three starts over fences at the track have resulted in two wins and a second.

He chased home subsequent winner Of Corse I Can, pulling nicely clear of the remainder, on his return to chasing here last month and then had that rival in behind when scoring a couple of weeks ago.

Those efforts earned He Is A Cracker Timeform's Horses For Courses Flag, highlighting his effectiveness around Fontwell, and he looks set to give another good account following a 6 lb rise in the weights for that decisive six-and-a-half-length success.

Exeter, 16:10 - Axel Bleue open to improvement on handicap debut

Dual bumper winner Axel Bleue has also made a promising start over hurdles, finding only one too strong at Uttoxeter and Worcester.

Both of those novice hurdles were run at a steady gallop and Axel Bleue shaped like he would have appreciated more of an emphasis on stamina. He should get that stiffer test on his handicap debut at Exeter where he faces 13 rivals in a contest that Timeform's Pace Forecast indicates is likely to be run at a strong gallop.

Axel Bleue is less exposed than his rivals and is the only runner in the line-up with the Timeform 'small p' to show that further improvement is expected.

Newcastle, 17:30 - 'Horse In Focus' Bowood tops Timeform's ratings by 5 lb

Bowood had offered some encouragement that he was in good enough heart to take advantage of a much-reduced mark when finishing in the frame at Southwell and Kempton, and he built on that to run out a wide-margin winner at Newcastle 11 days ago.

Running at Newcastle for the first time since early-2024, Bowood seemed well suited by the stiff mile. He made his customary slow start but travelled smoothly at the back of the pack, made good headway to lead a furlong out and then readily quickened four and a half lengths clear, looking as good as ever.

The style of that success earned him Timeform's Horse In Focus Flag, marking him out as one likely to be of firm interest next time, and he looks well treated under a 5 lb penalty. He comes out 5 lb clear at the head of Timeform's weight-adjusted ratings.

Now read Mark Milligan's Friday Racing tips