Best bets for Friday night’s races at The Valley

A smart sprinter can make a winning return over 955m while champion jockey Damien Oliver has a small but strong book of rides at The Valley on Friday night.

Smart sprinter Elite Icon can start his spring preparation with a win at Friday night's meeting at The Valley. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

News Corp form analyst Brad Waters runs the rule over Friday night’s meeting at The Valley.

BEST BET

ELITE ICON (Race 6 No.5 – $2.20)

The smart four-year-old impressed in his first campaign and will be more mature this time around. Expecting him to post a first-up win at The Valley.

NEXT BEST

LIFE LESSONS (Race 1 No.4 – $3.20)

Life Lessons was in the betting and did a good job when second on debut last time in before a steady effort at Warrnambool. She’ll be stronger and harder to hold out this time.

WISAKA (Race 7 No.7 – $4.40)

Wisaka showed he was in for a good campaign when narrowly beaten at Cranbourne first-up and he thrives around the 2000m distance race. He can go one better on Friday night.

Sociabeel could repeat her last-start win when the promising mare heads to The Valley on Friday night. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

VALUE BET

SOCIABEEL (Race 3 No.9 – $8)

The developing mare led throughout to score at Cranbourne last start. She’s up in class but her on-pace racing style will be perfect for The Valley with the rail out 4m.

THE JOCKEY

DAMIEN OLIVER

Damien Oliver has four rides at The Valley but should be thereabouts with all his mounts on Friday night. DAKARAI (Race 1 No.6 – $5), LONG TYCOON (Race 4 No.6 – $3.80), VERSILIA (Race 5 No.4 – $5.50), ROSE TYCOON (Race 9 No.11 – $6).

Originally published as Best bets for Friday night’s races at The Valley