Horse Racing Tips: Cobden On Board Spotlight Pick

There are five meetings taking place today, Friday 2nd February, with Catterick, Southwell, Lingfield, Dundalk and Newcastle the tracks hosting action. The racing begins with the 13:05 at Catterick and concludes at 19:15 at Newcastle. With the Dublin Racing Festival beginning tomorrow. we try to point you in the direction of some Friday winners here with analysis of the Naps, the stats and the latest racing news...

Follow The Leaders

Despite Spotlight's form dwindling since their stunning run of seven winning Naps in eight,  they still hold a commanding lead in the Naps Table showing over £20 in profit. Today's best bet is ZWICKY in the 15:25 at Southwell and has Harry Cobden on board, fresh from his treble at Wincanton yesterday. The horse had an unideal run through at Hexham last time out, with the race being too slowly run for him to be seen to best effect. Now with the title chasing jockey booked to take the spin, he should be bang there come the finish.

Two hours earlier, the second placed Napster West Country's Nap DOCTOR FOLEY runs at the same track. The horse is not easy to trust and the market will be a crucial guide, as he ran poorly and reportedly 'made a noise' on his return over 100 days ago. Since that day he has had a wind-op and is on his best form a smart chaser, but it is yet to be seen if today is the day or the famed second run after a wind-op - i.e. next time out - will be his big day. Finally, The Punt are still clinging onto third and their best bet comes from Catterick in the 14:35, MOORE CLOUDS. She has won twice recently and is clearly a horse who loves jumping fences, so the fact she has been raised just a solitary pound for her Boxing Day success means she should be able to be competitive in here.

1. Spotlight - Zwicky - 15:25 Southwell - P&L: £20.80
2. West Country - Doctor Foley - 13:25 Southwell - P&L: £8.24
3. The Punt - Moore Clouds - 14:35 Catterick - P&L: £4.87

Friday's Most Popular Naps

Just one horse has received the vote of four experts as the best bet of the day, and the horse runs at Catterick in the 14:05 maiden hurdle. The race is for four year olds only and surprisingly the popular Nap is only second favourite at the moment, MAASAI MARA for Nick Schofield and John O'Shea. The Roaring Lion gelding unsurprisingly on his breeding had a flat career before being transferred to O'Shea's yard to embark on a quest to become a hurdler and he shaped with some promise when not given a hard time on hurdles debut at Hereford just under a month ago.

As most in this field will, he looks sure to improve and it is clear to see why four experts - including The Score from Racing TV - fancy him best on a busy Friday of racing. ZWICKY, who is the Nap of the leader Spotlight, has been selected by three judges in total and has leading claims with the best jockey riding in Britain right now Harry Cobden on board and frantically chasing down Sean Bowen in the race for the Jockey's Title come the end of the season.

How About Stat?

Tom Broughton has a fair strike-rate in his burgeoning career thus far, but his win-rate sky rockets to a whopping 75% when teaming up with the trainer he has one ride for today Fergal O'Brien at Southwell. The deadly combo are together again at the track in the 14:25. sending TEQUILA BLAZE out in the hope of success.