Famous names and famous colours plus the Littmoden family bid for a memorable success - punting pointers for Friday

Punting pointers for some of Friday's action. . .

Bangor: Hayes seeking a first

Two races on Bangor's card will star on ITV Racing's coverage, including the 2m3½f maiden hurdle (2.05) in which Irish jockey Brian Hayes will try to land his first winner at the track.

The Cheltenham Festival-winning jockey has only had one ride at the Welsh venue before, but he looks like he could have a leading chance to make it second time lucky on the John McConnell-trained Kevin's Pride.

Owned by the double green team of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, the five-year-old was an impressive winner of a Kilbeggan bumper in August, but he was denied by a neck on his hurdles debut at Carlisle last month under Hayes.

They seek to avenge that narrow reverse in a race where they comfortably seem to have the best form in the book. Kevin's Pride is Hayes and McConnell's only representative at the meeting.

Kevin's Pride14:05 Bangor-on-Dee

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Jky: Brian Hayes Tnr: John C McConnell

Bangor: a race for McCain

Three of Donald McCain's last seven runners in the 2m½f handicap hurdle (1.00) have won. He relies on Bo Cruz and Atlantic Lad this year.

Cork: Girl walks in Fly's footsteps

Some famous jumps silks will be back in action when Fancy Girl contests the 2m4f mares' maiden hurdle (1.40).

The blue silks with green diamonds of the Creighton family will be seen on a racecourse for the first time in seven months and they were once carried by one of the greatest ever two-mile hurdlers.

That star was Hurricane Fly, who won two Champion Hurdles, five Irish Champion Hurdles and four Punchestown Champion Hurdles among his staggering haul of 19 Grade 1 victories between 2008 and 2015.

Fancy Girl will find it nearly impossible to match his exploits, but she already has course-winning form and has made the frame in Graded company before, too. However, she has to defy a mammoth 597-day absence, having not been seen since disappointing at the 2023 Punchestown festival.

Fancy Girl13:40 Cork

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Jky: Paul Townend Tnr: W P Mullins

Doncaster: hurdles bow for Melon

Melon will be running at Doncaster on Friday. Yes, you read that correctly.

No, it is not the popular dual Champion Hurdle runner-up, who was famous for being the bridesmaid at the Cheltenham Festival, but his younger namesake who is set to make his jumps debut in the opening 2m½f maiden hurdle (11.40).

The three-year-old is trained by Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerreiro and raced four times on the Flat this year, including when winning at Haydock on his last start in September. He faces six rivals on his hurdles debut in which he could have a leading chance to make a perfect start.

Melon also carries the colours of another former popular jumps star, Lil Rockerfeller.

Melon11:40 Doncaster

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Jky: Henry Brooke Tnr: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Dundalk: hat-trick bid

Eclairage has made Ireland's only all-weather track her own and she bids to keep up her perfect record there in the opening 5f contest (5.00).

Trained by Daniel Murphy, the two-year-old failed to land a blow in three starts on the turf during the summer, but has come alive on the Polytrack this winter. She struck on her handicap debut at 12-1 over the course and distance in October and improved again when bolting up by five lengths last month.

Declan McDonogh was aboard on those occasions and he maintains the partnership up against three rivals. 

The filly is one of three runners on the card for Murphy, who was among the winners at the track on Wednesday. He also relies on Ocean Diamond (6.00) and Tribal Moon (6.30).

Eclairage17:00 Dundalk (A.W)

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Jky: Declan McDonogh Tnr: Daniel James Murphy

Southwell: family fortunes

Grace Littmoden will be itching to get her breakthrough first career win and has a special chance to do it for her father and trainer Nick in the concluding 6f amateur jockeys' handicap (8.15).

The 17-year-old had her first ride under rules at Ripon in the summer and has had six goes on the track, finishing second on one occasion. Now she looks to have a prime opportunity to get off the mark on Monsieur Beaulieu.

The six-year-old already notched a landmark success this month as he was Nick Littmoden's first winner since returning to the British training ranks from France when scoring at Lingfield.

He is 2lb well in for this contest and the trainer hopes he can strike again.

"He's in good form," he said. "He's improved for the switch to an all-weather surface, the layout of the track should suit and the trip is ideal. 

"There's a few horses in there in form so there's strength in depth to the race, but we hold him in high regard.

"Grace has been riding him since she was 14 so knows him inside out and hopefully he can run well."

Monsieur Beaulieu20:15 Southwell (A.W)

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Jky: Miss Grace Littmoden (7lb)Tnr: Nick Littmoden

Southwell: trainer it pays to follow

James Tate's runners aged three or older in handicaps have yielded a £28 profit to a £1 level stake at an impressive 63 per cent strike-rate at the track this season. He saddles King Of Ithaca (4.45).

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