The day that gets the pulse racing for the jump’s fans as Chepstow marks the start of the 24/25 National Hunt season.

Away from Chepstow, Newmarket host it end of season Dewhurst meeting with the Group 1 bet365 Fillies’ Mile headlining day one of the meeting.

Below I list my best bets for Friday, along with the best online bookmakers to place your next winning bet.

Best Friday horse racing betting tips

Chepstow 3:15 – Flying Fortune 4/1

Newmarket 3:35 – Desert Flower 7/4

Chepstow 3:50 – Wayfinder 8/1

Chepstow 5:20 – Belgarum 

*Odds are subject to change.

Chepstow 3:15 – Grade 2 Unibet Persian War Novices’ Hurdle (2m3½f)

Arguably a below-standard Persian War, but someone has to win it, and I see the in-form mare Flying Fortune having too much for her rivals here.

She’s been in a rich vein of form since her comeback in June, where she finished 2nd to the now Listed winner Gale Mahler.

Since then, she’s rattled off a hat-trick of wins, each by 1½ lengths, meaning the handicapper may not have fully gotten to grips with her just yet.

When you factor in her mares’ allowance, she doesn’t have much to find with market leader Intense Approach, who, for what it’s worth, has to be taken on given his frailty in the jumping department and overall poor form.

Her local trainers, Peter and Michael Bowen, have been operating at a healthy 36% strike rate over the past two weeks, which only adds to her appeal.

This uncomplicated mare is at the top of her game, and with the promise of more to come, she should take all the beating.

Current Betting: Ryan’s Rocket 3/1, Intense Approach 10/3, Flying Fortune 4/1, Juventus De Brion 6/1, Vincenzo 10/1, Handlethekettle 14/1, Bullets Hill 50/1

Bet on Flying Fortune with Paddy Power

Newmarket 3:35 – Group 1 bet365 Fillies’ Mile (1m)

In a field that contains five last-time-out winners, with four of them unbeaten in their careers so far, I still see this as a straightforward task for Desert Flower.

I’ve been really impressed by how she has been able to win her races with the minimum of fuss.

Today, on paper, she faces her stiffest task to date, but she already comfortably holds January from their meeting in the Group 2 May Hill Stakes at Doncaster.

Aidan O’Brien and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe-winning trainer Ralph Beckett both run unbeaten fillies in Dreamy and Tabiti, but for me, they would have to be something special to reach a rating of 106.

Even if they do manage that, there’s a high chance Desert Flower will improve further on that rating here.

The faster they go up top the better it will be for Desert Flower. It will take a massive performance to get the better of her in the bet365 Mile.

Current Betting: Desert Flower 7/4, Dreamy 6/1, Tabiti 6/1, January 8/1, Ballet Slippers 12/1, Anna Swan 14/1, California Dreamer 66/1.

Bet on Desert Flower with bet365

Chepstow 3:50 – Unibet Veterans’ Handicap Chase (2m7½f)

Many aren’t fans of these races, but I’m all for them. In my opinion, there should be more of them, with a final at the Cheltenham Festival.

But that’s a conversation for another day.

We’ve got plenty of old favorites here, including last year’s winner from the clouds, Good Boy Bobby, who is looking to win back-to-back runnings of this race, off just 1lb higher.

Just like the Persian War Novices’ Hurdle, there are a few horses at the top of the market that I’m more than willing to take on. The one who tops my list here is course specialist Wayfinder.

With four wins and two 2nd places from 9 runs at Chepstow, it’s fair to say that Chepstow has been a happy hunting ground for Wayfinder.

He has a good record fresh, and first time out back in 2022, he was seen winning by 8 lengths off 2lb lower over course and distance. 

Last season, he was a good 3rd on his seasonal return behind Whacker Clan and Twig (who went on to finish 2nd to Chanti Classico in the Ultima at the Festival) at Cheltenham’s October meeting.

That 3rd alone gives him strong claims here, but he backed that up with a just-over-5-length 2nd to the now runaway Welsh National hero Nassalam, off 4lb higher at, you guessed it, Chepstow.

This can be seen as a drop in grade compared to what he usually contests, and given his strong record at Chepstow, Wayfinder may just find his way back to the winner’s enclosure today.

Current Betting: Good Boy Bobby 4/1, Francky Du Berlais 5/1, Copperhead 11/2, Certainly Red 6/1, Wayfinder 8/1, Enrilo 17/2, Amateur 14/1, 16/1 bar.

Bet on Wayfinder with Paddy Power

Chepstow 5:30 – David Pipe Racing Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Chase (2m7½f)

The final race on the opening day of the jumps season sees the conditional jockeys get their first opportunity to make a name for themselves in the season ahead.

One conditional jockey who has started making a name for himself over the summer and may be about to kick off the jump season in style is Freddie Gingell, who partners the hat-trick-seeking Belgarum.

Having started his summer campaign off a mark of 79, Belgarum has quickly proven that he was much better than that rating.

A 16-length win on his second start this summer was followed by an 11lb rise in the weights, but he failed to get the better of that mark next time out at Newton Abbot.

It was back at that very track, after nearly a four-week break, where his race ended at the first fence with a fall.

However, that fall marked a turning point for Belgarum.

A comfortable 9½-length win at Fontwell was followed by an even more impressive victory off a mark of 99 by 21 lengths at Plumpton.

I don’t know if the handicapper missed that run, but he has only been raised 3lb for a 21-length win.

Given his steep upward curve and the very generous 3lb rise, which leaves him able to compete in a 0-115 here, I believe Belgarum is more than capable of progressing once again.

He could take some stopping here.

Current Betting: N/A

Bet on Belgarum with bet365

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