Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing coming your way from Longchamp, Newmarket, Chester, Ripon, Haydock Park and Chelmsford City on 30 September 2023.
LONGCHAMP
Race 3 QATAR ORIX DU CADRAN (Group 1)
No4 TRUESHAN
Trainer: Alan King – Jockey: Hollie Doyle
TRUESHAN will not get the testing conditions that bring out the best in him, but the seven-year-old copes with this terrain and can outclass his opponents. He hauled the Doncaster Cup out of the fire in spite of pulling his rider’s arms out for most of the journey, and on what is only a fourth outing of the season for the gelding he can repel the challenges of EMILY DICKINSON and SKAZINO.
Race 5 No2 ISLANDSINTHESTREAM
Trainer: Joseph O’Brien – Jockey: Maxime Guyon
ISLANDSINTHESTREAM found only the ultra-smart Henry Longfellow his match in the National Stakes at the Curragh. That was the best juvenile contest for males run in Ireland this year, and a repeat of the run should see him safe home in this valuable Sales race. The best message for the local challenge is for HIT IT, who can also earn.
Race 7 QATAR PRIX DANIEL WILDENSTEIN (Group 2)
No7 EMBESTO (Nap)
Trainer: Roger Varian – Jockey: Christian Demuro
Roaring Lion colt EMBESTO figures as the joker in the pack based on his almost unblemished record of three wins from four, culminating in a Group3 success at Salisbury. He met Nostrum on that colt’s best day of the season when beaten in the Sir Henry Cecil Stakes, but there was no disgrace in that. He has an upwardly mobile profile, and should have too many guns for ISAAC SHELBY in an all British finish.
Race 8 QATAR PRIX DOLLAR (Group 2)
Race 8 No7 HORIZON DORE
Trainer: Patrice Cottier – Jockey: Mickael Barzalona
HORIZON DORE really has the bit between his teeth after rattling off a fine hat-trick through the summer, completed when he took out the Group 3 Prix Prince d’Orange here at the beginning of the month. He appeals as a horse that could have plenty more to offer, and can stave off the attentions of EREVANN and SAMMARCO in a fascinating contest.
NEWMARKET
Race 1 JUDDMONTE ROYAL LODGE STAKES (Group 2)
No4 CAPULET
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien – Jockey: Ryan Moore
Justify colt CAPULET surrendered his unbeaten record but only to a smart foe in Diego Velazquez in the Champions Juvenile at Leopardstown, after opening his account on the Dundalk Polytrack. Well regarded at Ballydoyle, he can reassert in a fascinating opener at the main expense of GHOSTWRITER, an impressive winner of both starts here and at Ascot for Clive Cox.
Race 2 JUDDMONTE CHEVELEY PARK STAKES (Group 1)
No8 RELIEF RALLY
Trainer: William Haggas – Jockey: Tom Marquand
With 13 runners this Guineas trial has a more open look than usual. PORTA FORTUNA and JABAARA interest me, but not as much as RELIEF RALLY, who has looked out of the ordinary and is unlucky not to be defending a five-race unbeaten record. The daughter of Kodiac’s only blip came when Crimson Advocate nosed her out of the spoils in the Queen Mary, but the manner of her subsequent triumphs in the Newbury Super Sprint and the Lowther Stakes at York mark her down as very smart.
Race 3 JUDDMONTE MIDDLE PARK STAKES (Group 1)
No5 RIVER TIBER
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien – Jockey: Ryan Moore
RIVER TIBER can help make it a red letter day for Coolmore and elevate himself to the forefront of the market for the 2024 2,000 Guineas by taking out this sizzling sprint. The Wootton Bassett colt included the Coventry Stakes among his three straight successes earlier in the summer, and while unable to cope with VANDEEK in the Prix Morny at Deauville has a good chance of turning the tables with that foe. His subsequent work has been of a high order, and though the betting suggests there won’t be much in it I fancy him to gain his revenge.
Race 4 BET365 CAMBRIDGESHIRE HANDICAP
No16 STAY WELL (Each Way)
Trainer: Hughie Morrison – Jockey: Kieran Shoemark
MAJESTIC bids to become the first back-to-back winner of this first leg of the Autumn Double since Prince De Galles back in the Sixties, and it would be no surprise to see him involved in the finish. Benoit De La Sayette has his first ride for Channon on the five-year-old.
DUAL IDENTITY absolutely bolted up at Sandown and has strong claims on that evidence, while GREEK ORDER is lightly-raced, classy, and capable of making another big step forward.
ASTRO KING has done well for his new connections and was well on top at the end of his latest start at York, having been unfortunate not to score there earlier in the season.
However, the one that makes most sense at the relative prices is STAY WELL, whose trainer knows how to lay one out for this. The five-year-old couldn’t hold a candle to Dual Identity at Sandown but it represented a much more encouraging display from the gelding, who now enjoys a tidy swing in the weights.
Prediction: 1st STAY WELL, 2nd Dual Identity, 3rd Greek Order, 4th Astro King, 5th Majestic
Race 6 No6 MISS INFORMATION (Nap)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
The bet I’m most looking forward to is MISS INFORMATION on her nursery debut. The Blue Point filly justified late on-course support to open her account in an Ascot novice when benefitting from a positive ride from the front. She should enjoy the step up in trip under the same jockey, and can follow up.
CHESTER
Race 2 No7 YORKINDNESS (Nap)
Trainer: Charlie Johnston – Jockey: Joe Fanning
From a good draw, YORKINDNESS should be able to enjoy a good sit or even lead in this fascinating Watergate Cup. The filly has impressed on recent visits to York and Musselburgh and can make this a fifth success from her last six outings.
Race 4 No3 ROMAN DRAGON
Trainer: Hugo Palmer – Jockey: Hayley Turner
Course specialist ROMAN DRAGON needs to overcome an unfavourable draw but is in the mood to achieve it. He made it two successes from as many rides under Turner this season when scoring over course and distance earlier in the month, knows every blade of grass on the Roodee and can follow-up.
RIPON
Race 2 No5 MIGUEL (Nap)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Connor Beasley
MIGUEL should have learned much from his Brighton success where he was in front for most of the journey. The Phoenix Of Spain colt found extra when ridden out up the final hill, which augurs well for his passage on this differently undulating track.
Race 5 No6 BETWEENTHESTICKS (Each Way)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Connor Beasley
BETWEENTHESTICKS isn’t obviously well handicapped, but following a number of frame finishes could have found the opportunity he needs to return to winning ways. Like Miguel, he has top jockey Beasley on his back for the first time this year, and can make it a belated first triumph of the season.
HAYDOCK PARK
Race 3 No1 CHAIRMANOFTHEBOARD
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Rob Hornby
The easy ground will play to the strengths of CHAIRMANOFTHEBOARD who has enjoyed a freshening break since finishing in rear in the Stewards’ Cup. Interestingly the top weight prevailed on his first visit to this track and can remain unbeaten here
Race 5 No13 ARKENDALE (Each Way)
Trainer: Ed Bethell – Jockey: Shane Gray
A high draw could be an issue to the claims of ARKENDALE, but the colt put in an eye-taking effort on a first outing for his trainer at Chester, and with only a handful of runs under his belt could find further progression.
Race 6 No3 BURDETT (Nap)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Jim Crowley
Inns Of Court colt BURDETT landed some good bets when opening his account and earning the right to run in nurseries at Ffos Las. He enters the handicap arena with his tail up, and having worked well on grass earlier in the week can take the spoils with Our Havana his biggest threat.
CHELMSFORD CITY
Race 8 No1 UNDER CURFEW (Each Way)
Trainer: Tony Carroll – Jockey: Mollie Phillips
UNDER CURFEW can get a monkey off his back by making this a first success in more than two years. The top weight has claimed a cheque in each of his last six races and deserves the run of the green required to prevail in the final race of the day.
Place Accumulator Perm (Races 2-8)
1 x 11, 4, 7 x 4, 1 x 7, 11 x 2, 7, 1 x 9, 1, 2 x 1, 2
R216
