Take note when Cieren Fallon rides for Charlie Appleby and Gavin Cromwell bids for repeat win - Friday's punting pointers

Aintree: Stormin Crossgales steps up in trip

Stormin Crossgales makes his first start for Worcestershire trainer Max Young, just 25 days after winning a 2m5f claiming chase at Fakenham for Charles and Adam Pogson.

The eight-year-old did well for the Pogsons, winning three of his eight races having cost only £5,000 in October 2024, but was claimed by Young for the same amount after winning a match race against Champagnesuperover at Fakenham.

Now owned by Lady Susan Brooke, Stormin Crossgales steps up four furlongs in trip in the 3m1f handicap chase (6.55), in which the top weight is the Nicky Henderson-trained Fantastic Lady, who is having her first start over conventional fences at Aintree after five previous runs over the Grand National course in the Topham and Grand Sefton.

Stormin Crossgales18:55 Aintree

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Jky: Robert Dunne Tnr: Max Young

Hamilton: Richard Fahey

The trainer has a 31 per cent strike-rate with runners in two-year-old races at the track. He runs Harlequin Bay in the 6f maiden (6.05).

Hamilton: Young has big chance on Faylaq

Jockey Lauren Young has an excellent chance of recording her first winner since March when she gets the leg up on topweight Faylaq in the £30,000 1m4f handicap (7.15).

The 23-year-old 7lb claimer is based with Faylaq’s trainer Jim Goldie, for whom she has ridden three winners.

This will be her first ride on the nine-year-old, who is in excellent form having made all to land a 1m5f handicap at this track just under a fortnight ago.

Faylaq19:15 Hamilton

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Jky: Lauren Young (7lb)Tnr: Jim Goldie

Kilbeggan: Final Orders out to give Cromwell repeat win

Gavin Cromwell won the 3m handicap hurdle (6.30) on this card a year ago with Bardenstown Lad, and the shrewd trainer is back with another classy type 12 months on.

Bardenstown Lad finished third in the 2022 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, but Final Orders, better known as a chaser, reached an even higher level.

Final Orders: raised 1lb by the British handicapper and bound for the Grand Annual

Final Orders: reached peak of 150 over fences but runs off 122 over hurdles at KilbegganCredit: David Keane (racingpost.com/photos)

The winner of nine of his 63 races, he improved markedly in the 2022-23 season to land a valuable handicap chase at the Dublin Racing Festival and achieved a peak rating of 150.

He competes here off 122 having finished a gallant third in a cross-country chase at the Punchestown festival this month.

Final Orders18:30 Kilbeggan

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Jky: Patrick M O'Brien (7lb)Tnr: Gavin Cromwell

Newbury: Andrew Balding

The trainer has a 60 per cent strike-rate (3-5) in three-year-old maidens at the course this season. He runs Respond in the 1m2f contest (4.45).

Respond16:45 Newbury

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Jky: Oisin Murphy Tnr: Andrew Balding

Newbury: Godolphin's Words Of Truth one to note

Godolphin unleash two potentially smart prospects in the 6f juvenile maiden (3.00).

Of most interest is the Charlie Appleby-trained Words Of Truth, a half-brother to last year's ill-fated Superlative Stakes winner Ancient Truth. By Lope De Vega, he will be ridden by Cieren Fallon, who has a 31 per cent strike-rate for Appleby having been successful on four of his 13 rides for the trainer.

Godolphin will also be represented by the John and Thady Gosden-trained Morris Dancer, a son of the stable's champion miler and first-season sire Palace Pier.

Words Of Truth15:00 Newbury

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Jky: Cieren Fallon Tnr: Charlie Appleby

Newmarket: can Athena's Fortune emulate Desert Dreamer?

Stuart Williams won the 6f novice (4.00) in 2021 with Desert Dreamer, who went on to finish second in the Group 2 Duchess of Cambridge Stakes and the Group 3 Princess Margaret Stakes and third in the Group 2 Lowther Stakes and Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte.

The Newmarket-based trainer is back with another filly for the same owners in Athena's Fortune. She was purchased for just 18,000gns at the Tattersalls Sommerville Sale last year, but makes some appeal on paper being related to the Group 1 winner Prosperous Voyage.

Her sire Kodi Bear is a source of speed, so expect Athena's Fortune to show up well for Williams, who is surprisingly having his first runner of the year at Newmarket.

Williams said: "She's the only filly in the race and might just need it. She's done some good work at home and has been pleasing us on the gallops. Whether she's ready to win first time I don't know, but we like her."