Can prolific all-weather winner continue rich vein of form? Punting pointers for Friday

Punting pointers for today's race meetings . . .

Lingfield: has Sky reached his limit?

Ed Dunlop is hoping to start the new year like the last one finished, with winning machine Havana Sky searching for a sixth victory in a row in division one of the 7f handicap (1.45).

With five wins to his name, three of which came last month, Havana Sky is the most prolific horse of the all-weather season after a remarkable run which has seen his rating rocket to 71 from 48.

All of those successes came over a furlong shorter, but Dunlop is eager to strike again while the iron is hot.

"We're stepping him up to seven furlongs because he's running under a penalty rather than off his new rating," said the trainer.

"He's been a revelation, winning five in a row, and he won impressively on his last two starts. There are one or two uncertainties, but he seems fresh and well."

Havana Sky13:45 Lingfield (A.W)

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Jky: Hector Crouch Tnr: Ed Dunlop

Lingfield stat: Bradley worth following

A £1 stake on Paddy Bradley's mounts (13-73) at Lingfield last year would've yielded a profit of £146.75. His best chance of a winner looks to be Rey De La Batalla in the 1m2f handicap (2.45).

Rey De La Batalla14:45 Lingfield (A.W)

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Jky: Paddy Bradley Tnr: Simon Dow

Musselburgh: Russell's strong team

Lucinda Russell is always a trainer to note at Musselburgh, and following a double at the track on Wednesday and an across-the-card treble on Thursday, she sends out a strong team on a card featuring four qualifiers for the Go North Series.

Russell made declarations for six of the seven races and is doubly represented in the 2m handicap chase (2.57) with course-and-distance winners Chapel Green and Mint Gold.

Chapel Green bounced back to form with a victory at the track in November under 5lb claimer Alan Doyle, who has ridden three winners at Musselburgh this season and maintains the partnership here.

Derek Fox partners the consistent Mint Gold, who has won twice over course and distance but comes with risks attached having shown a tendency to run in snatches.

Southwell: Paradoxical looking to strike again for in-form stable

Paradoxical scored at Lingfield on New Year's Eve to take Jennie Candlish to a career-best 14 winners for the year on the Flat and is back out just four days later bidding for a third victory in the space of three weeks in the 1m4f handicap (4.30).

The four-year-old ran well without winning on his first four starts for Candlish but has won two of his last three, with victories at Wolverhampton and Lingfield either side of a nose defeat.

He has to carry a 5lb penalty, but seemed to relish the extra distance that day and is unexposed over this 1m4f trip, so could have more to offer.

Assistant trainer Alan O'Keeffe said: "He seems to have come out of Lingfield well. He was very good there when we saw a big step up for going up in trip. The key to him now is that he's got his confidence. If he turns up in the same form I'd be hopeful he'll go very close."

Paradoxical16:30 Southwell (A.W)

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Jky: George Wood Tnr: Jennie Candlish

Southwell stat: Williams runner a wise punt

Stuart Williams is two from three (67 per cent strike-rate) with his runners in classified races at Southwell in the last five years. He looks to enhance that record with Batal Dandy (7.00).