Horses to follow: five for a bumper Friday on Racing TV

We have a bumper day of live action coming up on Friday, with 52 combined races coming your way from Newbury, Killarney, Haydock, Nottingham, Kilbeggan, Newmarket, Hamilton and Pontefract. Gavin Beech scours the cards and picks out five names worth a second look.

3.15 Haydock: Cold Stare

It’s pushing two years since Cold Stare last got his head in front but he’s been knocking loudly at the door this season and the Middleham Park-owned eight-year-old gets his ideal conditions in this 0-75 at Haydock Park.

Cold Stare, who represents a stable going very well, has won more races (3) at Haydock than anywhere else and this will be his first visit to the Merseyside venue since he went close in a much better race than this last autumn.

Like several in here, this hold-up performer will need a decent pace to chase down but the likes of Hour By Hour and Knebworth have been known to get on with it and that should ensure the selection can work his way into contention late on under talented apprentice Mark Winn, whose 3lb claim very handy in races like this.

4.45 Newbury: Palmar Bay

All eyes will be on Asadna who was sent off second-favourite for the Coventry Stakes after smashing the clock at Ripon on debut. Beaten six lengths at Ascot, this is obviously a significant drop in grade and he could easily prove different gear to these. However, he did ultimately prove a touch disappointing last time and it remains to be seen what level he can reach.

At bigger odds, an appealing each-way option is Palmar Bay who looks for all the world like he’ll improve for the step up to six furlongs after staying on strongly to score over the minimum trip at Salisbury.

That form has since taken a huge boost thanks to runner-up Jasour’s impressive success in the Group 2 July Stakes and Palmar Bay looks like a colt with a good deal more to offer.

5.15 Nottingham: Lady Celia

Lady Celia’s wins have all come on tracks with uphill finishes but the times from Nottingham on Tuesday suggested conditions were riding testing. With more rain forecast before Friday, the ability to stay well, even over five furlongs, will be crucial.

We know this daughter of Mayson handles such conditions well given she has a soft ground Hamilton success on her CV and there was plenty to like about her reappearance at Carlisle earlier this month, where she travelled well for a long way before tiring late on.

Expected to strip fitter for that first run of the campaign, she gets to race of a 2lb lower mark than for her last win and the booking of Clifford Lee suggests connections are expecting a bold show here.

7.50 Pontefract: Elegant Erin

Three of these met in a warm handicap at York last weekend and although Elegant Erin fared the worst of the trio, she doesn’t have much to find with Copper Knight and Mattice.

That two-length defeat needs marking up a touch because she was given a lot to do that day and didn’t get the cleanest run through, whereas both the pair that re-oppose today raced prominently up the centre.

Furthermore, the selection looks the one who will be best suited by today’s conditions, especially if turns out to be on the soft side.

Elegant Erin has a win and two places to her name from just four runs at Pontefract so we know she runs the track well and she is just 1lb higher than when landing a soft ground handicap at Beverley last autumn.

Progressive last term, this mare looks ready to return to winning ways and this looks a great opportunity.

8.05 Newmarket: Peony

A few of these like to get on with it, notably recent course winners Star Guest and Sophia’s Starlight.

That should set things up nicely for a horse coming from just behind the speed and the one that makes most appeal is Peony who can complete the hat-trick for Ed Walker.

Peony might need the rain to stay away but Thursday and Friday are both scheduled to be dry days in Newmarket so conditions should be fine for a filly that saw her race out strongly to score at Haydock last time despite being marooned widest in the centre of the racecourse.

The daughter of Churchill is lightly-raced and progressive enough to have little difficulty absorbing a 4lb nudge up the weights and Tom Marquand keeps the winning partnership intact.