Timeform Radio Tips: Cider with Prince Blackthorn

one of Will's bets comes from Musselburgh

Will Hayler gives his two best bets on Friday.

Richard Johnson is a very rare visitor to Musselburgh, but he hit the target for Tim Vaughan at the track on Thursday and should be on the mark again aboard Rigidity this afternoon.

Johnson can now boast six wins from a total of just 13 rides at the track during his long career and has stayed up north of the border in order to take a couple more mounts at the course today.

Rigidity went within inches of winning the Ladbroke Hurdle at Ascot last year and shaped with some promise when fifth in an above-average event at Hexham on his chasing debut last month at a time when some of Vaughan's horses weren't really firing.

With that run under his belt, he is surely going to have too much speed for his rivals over two miles around this sharpish track. The likes of Vosges and Bogside both want further, while although Kie's weight allowance makes him look quite attractive, there are enough holes to be picked in his juvenile hurdling form to suggest he may be a little over-rated at present.

Willie Amos endured a tough time fighting against a virus which swept through his stables last season, but recently expressed optimism that he might have a few well-handicapped horses up his sleeve as a consequence.

Prince Blackthorn was well backed on a couple of occasions last year and connections evidently felt that they had acquired a horse with a few pounds in hand of the handicapper - the pick of his Irish form looks particularly strong at this level.

He faces some ordinary rivals at Hexham this afternoon and with Amos having had a couple of winners in recent weeks, it could pay to take a chance on the horse's fitness for his first start since March.
 
Recommended bets:
 
Back Rigidity in the 13.20 at Musselburgh at 3.211/5.
Back Prince Blackthorn in the 14.00 at Hexham at 5.95/1.