Neil Morrice best bets and tips – Saturday 14 October 2023

NEWMARKET

Race 1 EMIRATES AUTUMN STAKES (Group 3)

No3 ARABIC LEGEND (Each Way)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Sean Levey

ARABIC LEGEND beat Emperor’s Star fair and square on his Newmarket introduction only to fail to cope with ARABIAN CROWN in a Listed race at Salisbury. There’s just a feeling that the winner got first run and that my selection was pegging him back at the finish.

CHIEF LITTLE ROCK enters the equation courtesy of his second in the Beresford Stakes at the Curragh in a race that should prove an apt curtain raiser to a great day’s racing.

Race 2 NATIVE TRAIL’S DEWHURST STAKES (Group 1)

No3 CITY OF TROY
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien – Jockey: Ryan Moore

Justify colt CITY OF TROY looked the real deal when taking out the Group 2 Superlative Stakes by six lengths on the July course here at HQ. He’s enjoyed a break but if rocking up in similar form will put his name on the Dewhurstbroll of honour, and cement his place at the forefront of the betting for next year’s 2,000 Guineas.

The one that can cause him problems is IBERIAN, who bounced back from an unlucky defeat at Goodwood to show his real ability when landing the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster. His trainer is adamant he’s a Group 1 horse who will earn his place in the 2024 Guineas.

Race 3 CLUB GODOLPHIN CESAREWITCH HANDICAP

No8 PIED PIPER (Each Way)
Trainer: Gordon Elliott -Jockey: Ryan Moore

Since a most unlucky in running effort in the 2022 Ascot Stakes, PIED PIPER has performed with varied success as a dual-purpose operator. He falls a tad short of being in the top bracket over hurdles but is a strong traveller who should go well in just a second run on the Flat since Royal Ascot.

I will be surprised if VINO VICTRIX hasn’t been laid out for this by Hughie Morrison, and he looked to be coming back to form when taking away a minor cheque at Goodwood. He’s come down in the weights and can get into the shake-up.

THE SHUNTER is another Irish-trained candidate that takes the eye in the colours of JP McManus. He’s lightly-raced on the Flat, and has the hallmarks of a plot. Noel Meade’s JESSE EVANS is an additional Irish raider with allure and can get into,the argument, while Vino Victrix’s barnmate NOT SO SLEEPY showed he’s no back number with a gritty triumph at Newbury, and could be hard to pull back if getting onto an easy lead.

Prediction: 1st PIED PIPER, 2nd The Shunter, 3rd Jesse Evans, 4th Not So Sleepy, 5th Vino Victrix

Race 5 EARTHLIGHT DARLEY STAKES (Group 3)

No6 KNIGHT (Nap)
Trainer: Simon Crisford – Jockey: James Doyle

Every drop of rain that’s fallen here this week should assist KNIGHT who is a horse on the cusp of Pattern race success, and who appears to have been blessed with a gilt-edged opportunity. His head defeat by Chindit in a Listed race at Sandown reads especially well and he figures to be even happier now moved up to nine furlongs, as he was also finishing strongly when second in the Celebration Mile at Goodwood.

YORK

Race 1 No9 STARLORE (Nap)
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Richard Kingscote

STARLORE is rated the most talented juvenile colt at Freemason Lodge. In order to prove it he needs to take care of business in this Listed opener. Having got home by the skin of his teeth on debut at Sandown, the Kingman colt finished fourth in the Solario Stakes at the same course, a race he was expected to win. However, he’s gone well in subsequent strong work and should find the drop back to six furlongs keynote to success today.

Race 2 No1 WHISKEY PETE (Each Way)
Trainer: Ralph Beckett – Jockey: Hector Crouch

Gunning the colt from the gate was probably not the best way to ride WHISKEY PETE at the demanding Sandown track, and he was duly reeled in up the final hill. It was the second time in as many starts that he’d been usurped as an odds-on favourite, but in different circumstances here he can open his account. Off a mark of 86 for a first nursery he might have been let in lightly, and I shall pay to find out.

Race 3 No17 PENDLETON (Each Way)
Trainer: Julie Camacho – Jockey: Ben Curtis

PENDLETON staged a revival when coming back from almost a year on the sidelines to score on debut for Julie Camacho at Thirsk. He was a clear cut winner, and if avoiding the ‘bounce’ factor can serve up a similar display, though respect is also afforded to SUMMERGHAND, SIGNIFICANTLY and MR WAGYU for swingers, exactas, trifectas and quartets.

Race 5 No6 BELIEVE IN STARS
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Richard Kingscote

CERTAIN LAD usually runs well at this course and has a good each way chance. He had to go for home too soon at Newbury, and a jink left in the final 100 yards probably cost him a third place finish.

He’s not a horse to let run loose but for the main bet BELIEVE IN STARS is just preferred. This lightly-raced individual came back from a year off the track to gain a gritty triumph as Goodwood from which he’s greatly benefitted, and there should be more to come from him as a handicapper.

CHEPSTOW

Race 4 No4 ELIXIR DE NUTZ (Each Way)
Trainer: Joe Tizzard – Jockey: Brendan Powell

It’s hard to run your pen through the names of any of the ten acceptors in this two-and-a-half-mile handicap chase but the one with most boxes ticked is the grey ELIXIR DE NUTZ. The nine-year-old ended a bountiful 2022/23 season with an earning run at Ayr and is ready for this return to action at a track that will,suit.

Race 5 No13 UNCLE BERT (Each Way)
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies

UNCLE BERT landed some good bets at Perth in style and has the look of a fairly handicapped horse. He will need to be in order to prevail in a wickedly competitive heat, but he does look to be improving, and will be sharper than many of his foes returning from summers at grass.

CHESTER

Race 2 No3 HACKMAN
Trainer: Hugo Palmer – Jockey: Connor Beasley

HACKMAN has good form at his local track and especially when beaten just a length into third in a similar race last time. He competes from a 1lb lower mark moved up to six furlongs, and from his slot on the rail can dominate.

Race 3 No3 INDIVIDUALISM (Nap)
Trainer: Charlie Johnston – Jockey: Rob Hornby

As a relative of this stable’s Gold Cup Subjectivist winner plenty was expected of INDIVIDUALISM in his first season. In three attempts he’s made the frame without managing to get his head in front, but this is surely to opportunity he’s been looking for, as he remains a colt with bags of potential.

CHELMSFORD CITY

Race 5 No3 WILLY CAMPBELL (Nap)
Trainer: Sylvester Kirk – Jockey: Liam Keniry

WILLY CAMPBELL raised his game to finish in the money at Kempton and skipped a good opportunity at Brighton to head here. He needs to circumnavigate a wide draw, but in this relatively small field that’s entirely possible. He can provide a needed winner for his stable.

Race 7 No1 TANGO TONIGHT
Trainer: Hughie Morrison – Jockey: Joshua Brown

Pivotal filly TANGO TONIGHT has knocked on the door on her last two outings and is well drawn for her first visit to the Essex track. While her form on Tapeta is much better than what she’s shown on Polytrack, she’s worth another chance and can prove too hot for Moonspirit to handle.

Race 9 No6 WILLINGLY
Trainer: Mark Usher – Jockey: Owen Lewis

WILLINGLY was a multiple winner for Usher last year, and after spending time in another yard has settled back well on rejoining the trainer’s Lambourn team. Two placed efforts at Hamilton and Nottingham are there to be built on, and she should prove hard to beat on a first all-weather run for exactly two years.

Place Accumulator Perm (Races 3-9)

5, 8, 1 x 4 x 3 x 10, 1, 2 x 1, 2, 10 x 11, 7, 8 x 6, 4

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