Lucky 15 Tips: Boughey filly on the comeback trail

Plenty of rattling-good racing on Friday to enjoy, and for the Lucky 15 tips I’m heading to North Yorkshire, and the beautiful flat racecourse at Thirsk.

A six-race card kicks in at 14:00, and the racing looks super-competitive and interesting. Let’s get weaving.

Horse Racing Odds

Today’s Horse Races

15:10 – Hill Street Blues @ 10/3

Exalted local trainer Richard Fahey is based around 30 miles away from this track at Musley Bank, and surely has bright chances of heading back down the A170 with the prize.

Hill Street Blues is a two-year-old Blue Point colt who has had one run so far – a warm York 6f maiden 41 days ago. He didn’t get competitive but was running on towards the finish and that was a tough first day at school.

He’s likely to find this a lot less demanding and can put that experience at the county’s premier track to good use here.

15:45 – Chat Up Line @ 11/2

Tim Easterby trains, Duran Fentiman rides. Another handler less than 30 miles away, at Great Habton. This is the bit where I get all dewey-eyed about Night Nurse, Sea Pigeon and the like being trained there back in the day. Keep thinking I’ll grow out of it. Nah …

Chat Up Line takes in this one-mile, Class 5 handicap just four days after a nice run at Beverley over slightly shorter and in a lower grade. Very interesting then that Tim and connections go to the well again so soon.

There’s just the suggestion that this experienced three-year-old filly is starting to get the hang of things, and this isn’t a deep contest. Her handicap mark has dropped to a tempting-looking 51, and what can I say? I’m tempted …

It’s a seller, so don’t expect Frankel.

16:20 – Etoile d’Alexandre @ 11/4

Billy the Kid Loughnane takes centre stage now, on a three-year-old Starspangledbanner filly for trainer George Boughey.

Etoile d’Alexandre has had her obligatory three novice/maiden spins and makes her handicap bow off an opening mark of 70. She’s shown plenty of promise so far, without seeming to significantly improve run for run.

But here’s the thing – all those three races were in her two-year-old season, and she hasn’t been seen since July last year.

Earlier this month the decision was taken to move the filly from her former handler Declan Carroll to Boughey, and the latter-named might just have been able to iron out whatever wasn’t quite clicking.

The aim has to be to recapture the terrific first impression given on debut at York in a June ’23 £15k novice. If that can be done, her chance is undeniable. I’m taking a bit of a punt, but the connections are top-drawer.

16:55 – The Grey Lass @ 7/2

More Easterby magic, fingers crossed, this time courtesy of Michael and David.

The Grey Lass has looked in the grip of the handicapper of late and a claimer, Lewis Chalkley (5) has been engaged. Mind you, it is an apprentice race!

The five-year-old mare has been the victim of her own consistency, and thoroughly deserves to get her head in front. The last very competitive spin was 29 days ago at Nottingham, (beaten 2l), and Lewis gets rides and does well for the Easterbys. Big chance for me.

This is an example of a Lucky 15. If you can improve upon my selections (of course you can), then go for it!

The odds can fluctuate between publishing our pieces and race-time. As a guide, a £0.50p win Lucky 15 on today’s selections, at the prices, and assuming all four won, would return around £520 for your total £7.50 stake.

Fred, ‘The Bonus King,’ invented the ‘Lucky’ series of bets and their bonuses. My colleague Adam has set out all you need to know with this handy guide – take a look by clicking here.

Lucky 15 tips from Betfred Insights.