Friday Racing Tips: Key Timeform data including a top-rated Horse In Focus

• Charlie Mason dropping in grade

• Course winner Cardinal Point in good form

•  Al Rufaa handicapped to end losing run

12:42, Chelmsford - Charlie Mason shaped well in a better race last time

Tony Carroll is in fine form again on the all-weather this winter, having the 'Hot Trainer' flag, after enjoying his best ever year in 2025 and he can win the opening apprentice handicap with Charlie Mason who contributed three wins to the stable's total last year.

The last of those wins came in an apprentice race at the St Leger meeting and in a busy campaign he was hardly out of the frame. He ran a couple of good races over today's course and distance late in the year, finishing a good second in a qualifier for the Timeform Sprint Series and then finishing fifth in the Final last month won by stablemate Justcallmepete.

Charlie Mason was only beaten just over a length but would have been closer still with a clearer passage, denied a run briefly a furlong out before running on, and earning the 'Horse In Focus' flag. Heading the Timeform weight-adjusted ratings here, he can gain some compensation returning to a lower grade.

13:12, Chelmsford - Consistent Cardinal Point weighted to go well again

Cardinal Point has been a model of consistency on the all-weather tracks in recent months for Michael Bell and that can be rewarded with another win at Chelmsford.

The daughter of Dubawi finished in the first three in her last eight starts in 2025 from the beginning of September onwards, including wins at Lingfield and over a slightly shorter trip than today's at Chelmsford where she did well to get up for a short-head victory in a race run at a crawl.

Cardinal Point has also been placed three times at Chelmsford over today's trip, including in an amateurs event last time out when leading briefly before being headed in the final furlong to go down by a length to fellow three-year-old Captain Robert. Only 1 lb higher here and in better heart than some of her rivals, Cardinal Point looks sure to go close again, being 2 lb clear in the Timeform weight-adjusted ratings.

19:00, Wolverhampton - Drop in trip to suit free-going Al Rufaa

Daniel & Claire Kubler's veteran Al Rufaa has just turned nine but retains plenty of ability and enthusiasm and looks capable of ending a frustrating losing sequence dropping back in trip at Wolverhampton.

His last win came over the same course and distance back in late-2023 but he has been placed numerous times since, including when twice finishing runner-up over a slightly longer trip at Wolverhampton in the autumn. However, he's looking very well handicapped these days and is now racing from 1 lb lower than when beaten a head here in October.

Al Rufaa tends to race freely, and that was especially the case last time when he tore off in front at Kempton but was headed over a furlong out before finishing fifth behind Wyld Bill. The eleven-furlong trip was further than ideal, however, and the drop back in distance here should suit much better. Al Ruffa is 3 lb clear in the Timeform weight-adjusted ratings, and he looks capable of a bold bid with Callum Rodriguez taking over in the saddle for the first time.

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