14:50 Kelso

Steve Ryder runs through the key races on 14th February and names his best bets for the day.

There is jumps racing at Kelso and Fakenham on Friday 14th February while Southwell, Newcastle and Dundalk stage an all-weather meetings.

Today’s Best Bets from Steve Ryder 

High class flat performer Wise Eagle will no doubt prove popular on his handicap debut over hurdles but preference instead goes to BASHFUL (best priced at 13/2) who was an impressive 6 ½ length winner at Musselburgh last time on his first run after a wind operation. The Iain Jardine trained seven-year-old had dropped down his previous winning mark last time but looked a revitalised character following wind surgery.

The handicapper has raised Bashful 11lbs for that comfortable success and as a result he gets into this 0-140 handicap off bottom weight and he can hopefully upset the favourite.

2:50 Kelso- Bashful 13/2 (1pt)

18:00 Newcastle

The Mick Appleby trained COOPERATION (best priced at 13/2) has frustrated punters recently including when beaten a short head last time when sent off favourite. His latest two runs at Southwell and Wolverampton, when beaten a neck and a head, prove that he is still competitively handicapped off a mark of 60 and he could get the perfect run against the nearside rail from Stall 10.

The biggest danger appears to be Tickets whose latest course and distance success was franked recently but Cooperation can hopefully reward backers who keep the faith in this race.

6:00 Newcastle- Cooperation 13/2 (0.5pt ew)

20:00 Newcastle

Horses at the bottom of the weights seem a theme for today and I am hoping POCKLEY (best priced at 11/4) can defy a 4lb penalty. The Linda Perratt trained seven-year-old won by a nose over 6f here earlier this month off a mark of 46 before winning by 1 ¼ lengths over this trip of 5f a week ago in a classified race.

The handicapper has raised Pockley up to a mark of 53 meaning that he is 2lbs “well in” under a 4lb penalty and he can hopefully win for a third time at this track this month.

8:00 Newcastle- Pockley 11/4 (1pt)