LUCKY LOVER BOY is fancied to get back to winning form by beating eight rivals for the Sky Sports Racing 415 Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (12.25) at Newcastle on Thursday.
The seven-year-old son of Teofilo, trained in tandem by Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero, has already had a fruitful campaign with three wins over hurdles.
And it could have been four had Lucky Lover Boy not had to wait for a gap when going easily two flights from home at Stratford last time out.
As Lucky Lover Boy was looking for a way out, Samatian kicked for home and still held a two-length advantage at the line.
It would have been much closer between the pair had Lucky Lover Boy found clear water when he needed it, and a 1lb rise in the weights may not be enough to stop him going one better.
At Chelmsford, COOL VIXEN gets the vote to deny a 5lb penalty for a last-time-out score at Kempton Park in the concluding Christmas Party Nights Here Handicap (8.30).
Robyn Brisland’s daughter of Dandy Man travelled with ease before lengthening clear to beat Hellavapace by a length and a quarter and David Probert’s mount has more to offer on her fifth try on the all-weather.
Friday racing tips
NEWCASTLE
12.25 LUCKY LOVER BOY (NAP)
1.05 HIDALGO DE L’ISLE
1.40 HIDDEN COMMANDER
2.15 ONENIGHTINTOWN
2.50 KILBARRY LEADER
3.25 RETURN FIRE
3.55 RAE DES CHAMPS
MARKET RASEN
12.55 CHASING FIRE
1.30 IORENS
2.05 HIDDEN DEPTHS
2.40 HARRY DU BERLAIS
3.15 PRECIOUS ELEANOR
3.45 RADETZKY MARCH
TAUNTON
1.15 TRUE ROMANCE
1.50 I SPY A DIVA
2.25 MASCAT
3.00 DANCING HARRY
3.35 OCEANS RED
4.10 CHORAL WORK
CHELMSFORD
5.30 MIRABELLO BOY
6.00 MAGGIE’S WAY
6.30 ONE FOR THE FROG
7.00 DUBAI LEADER
7.30 LAHEG
8.00 ALPHA CRU
8.30 COOL VIXEN (NB)
DOUBLE: LUCKY LOVER BOY and COOL VIXEN
