Friday Racing Tips: Key Timeform data including a 6/1 Horse In Focus at Dundalk

• In-form Genois can give another good account

• Molto Bene can capitalise on drop in class

• Bold Optimist to build on reappearance

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Exeter, 15:40 - Top-rated Genois remains well treated

Genois makes his first start in veterans' company for Jonjo & A. J. O'Neill at Exeter where he gets in off bottom weight. The ten-year-old began his career with Enda Bolger in Ireland where he won over hurdles but struggled over fences, albeit twice being placed over the cross-country course at Punchestown. Switched to his current stable early last season, he landed a gamble on just his second start for the O'Neills in a premier handicap chase at Wetherby.

Genois had dropped markedly in the weights before winning again back at Wetherby on Boxing Day when sweeping through from the rear to lead on the run-in and he confirmed that return to form back at the same track last time when a good second to Geryville.

A more assured jumper nowadays than he has been in the past, Genois continues to look well treated on his best form. He heads the Timeform weight-adjusted ratings with a '+', indicating he may have more in hand still, and can get his head in front again.

Leicester, 16:00 Top-rated Molto Bene can make her class count

Molto Bene has been enjoying a fine season for Charlie Longsdon and she can return to winning ways going back into a handicap in the mares' race on Leicester's all-chase card.

Molto Bene made an excellent start to her chasing career in the autumn, winning a novice handicap at Bangor and then a mares' handicap at Huntingdon, both times making all the running under her regular partner Lilly Pinchin. For her last couple of starts, Molto Bene has been stepped up to listed company for mares races, going back over hurdles at Doncaster before returning to fences at Newbury last time.

She ran well behind Lavida Adiva at Doncaster and was then second again facing a stiff task against smart rival Panic Attack at Newbury but gave another good account behind the Grand National hope. Molto Bene is back in calmer waters here, giving weight to lesser rivals who all have something to prove at present. Heading the Timeform weight-adjusted ratings, she looks the class act.

Dundalk, 17:45 - 'Horse In Focus' Bold Optimist on a good mark

Plenty of the runners in Dundalk's six-furlong handicap have been busy at the track over the winter but Bold Optimist was returning from a six-month break when making his reappearance there last month.

A former course-and-distance winner, he drew a blank last season but was well backed for his return and shaped well in finishing a narrowly-beaten third. Always handy, Bold Optimist challenged in the final furlong and was edged out only late on, beaten just a short head and a neck behind Sporting Hero. That performance earned him the Horse In Focus Flag from Timeform's reporter, marking him out as one likely to be of firm interest next time. 

That was over five furlongs, but Bold Optimist is just as effective over six. He starts this season on a much lower mark than he began the last campaign, while apprentice Ross Fagan takes a handy 10 lb off his back too.

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