Neil Morrice best bets and tips – Saturday 28 October 2023

DONCASTER

Race 1 KAMEKO FUTURITY STAKES (Group 1)

No6 DIEGO VELAZQUEZ
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien – Jockey: James Doyle

Frankel colt DIEGO VELAZQUEZ can make it a fifth success in the last seven runnings for his trainer of this traditionally reliable trial for the following season’s 2,000 Guineas. He stepped up from an eye-taking winning introduction to take out a Group 2 at Leopardstown, and with Doyle taking a rare ride for Coolmore can complete a hat-trick.

Godolphin’s ANCIENT WISDOM will ensure the selection doesn’t have things entirely his own way, having trotted up in the Auntumn Stakes at Newmarket, while DANCING GEMINI could also figure granted how impressive he was when powering clear in the Flying Scotsman Stakes in easy conditions here at the St Leger meeting.

Prediction: 1st DIEGO VENAZQUEZ, 2nd Ancient Wisdom, 3rd Dancing Gemini

Race 4 No5 DESPERATE HERO (Each Way)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Rossa Ryan

DESPERATE HERO is a very effective operator when breaking well and racing away from the other horses. Such tactics were perfectly executed at Windsor, Newbury and Nottingham and today not only does he have his favoured easy underfoot conditions, but has Ryan riding him for the first time. The grey has more to do than at Nottingham but is in the form of his life, looking set for another big earning run.

Race 5 No1 CERTAIN LAD (Nap)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: George Bass

CERTAIN LAD went up 5lb for his authoritative success at York but now finds himself in perhaps a less competitive race with underfoot conditions again in his favour. Bass delivered the strong travelling top weight with expert timing that day, and should again find himself with plenty of horse underneath him at the business end of this contest

CHELTENHAM

Race 1 No5 BEFORE MIDNIGHT (Each Way)
Trainer: Fergal O’Brien – Jockey: Mr Ben Sutton

BEFORE MIDNIGHT enjoyed a nice pipe opener when taking away a minor cheque over hurdles at Chepstow. On his first outing for O’Brien the chestnut jumped and travelled well and will be all the better for it. Back over fences he can make this a first triumph for almost two years.

Race 2 No2 BLUEKING D’OROUX (Nap)
Trainer: Paul Nicholls – Jockey: Harry Cobden

Mr Mackay could enter calculations for this conditions hurdle after a smooth win at Ludlow. I shall put him in a swinger with BLUEKING D’OROUX, who has the clear measure of these on the book. Out of sorts in his early days at Ditcheat, he came good with a vengeance in the spring when with the benefit of a wind operation he posted a 50-1 triumph at Ascot before finishing second in a strong race at Aintree. If turning up in similar form he will be hard to beat.

Race 3 No6 UNDERSUPERVISION (Each Way)
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies

Though out of sorts for much of last season it could prove a whole different ball game for UNDERSUPERVISION on his return to the fray. The seven-year-old has run some of his best races at this course, such as his third to Corach Rambler at the December meeting two years ago and in the same race last year. He has won and finished second on his two seasonal returns, and with his trainer knocking in the winners needs respecting.

Race 7 No11 MARTIN PLAGE (Each Way)
Trainer: Ben Brookhouse – Jockey: Jack Quinlan

Plenty in the concluding take the eye, but one that could have the X factor is MARTIN PLAGE, who hails from a license holder who has started his career with a bang. The French-bred gelding faces strong competition from Irish raiders Catch Yourself On and Jackson Lamb but he looked the part on his only run overseas and arrives with strong vibes behind him.

CHELMSFORD CITY

Race 1 No6 INVINCIBLE AURA (Nap)
Trainer: Marco Botti – Jockey: Harry Davies

INVINCIBLE AURA is a class dropper who could hardly be better berthed than one off the fence for this race round a left-handed bend. A tendency to hang has cost him on more than one occasion, but he kept straight when not disgraced in a valuable Sales race at Newmarket last time, and now finds himself in calmer waters.

Race 2 No5 MISS GALLAGHER (Each Way)
Trainer: William Jarvis – Jockey: Billy Loughnane

Towards the end of his final season with a licence, Jarvis can bag this low grade handicap with MISS GALLAGHER. The Dark Angel filly has ability, earning in three of her last four starts, and has the added benefit of star apprentice Loughnane in her irons.

Place Accumulator Perm (Races 2-8)

5, 6, 1 x 10, 8 x 4, 1, 2 x 2, 6 x 4, 5 x 4 x 2, 1

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