Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips from Wednesday’s racing at Musselburgh, Thirsk, Bath and Kempton.
Musselburgh Best Bets
Race 4: JACOB BLACK (7)
Trainer: Keith Dalgleish
Jockey: Shane Gray
Old man of the party JACOB BLACK fired a clear warning that he’s on the cusp of a return to winning form last week and if putting in a similar effort has a good chance of taking this. In one of the most competitive handicaps run at Carlisle he charged up the hill after being switched to finish third to Jackhammer. Considering he was denied a clear run it was a sterling effort and he deserves better luck.
Race 6: CLIFF BAY (6)
Trainer: Keith Dalgleish
Jockey: Shane Gray
Dalgleish is a good man to follow when the cash is down and if there’s support for CLIFF BAY it wouldn’t surprise me. This lightly-raced individual edged out Donnelly’s Rainbow at Carlisle but seemed to have a bit in reserve, having come from off the pace and responded well to pressure. From that first career triumph, he can progress.
Thirsk Best Bets
Race 4: ROUND THE ISLAND (9) (Each Way)
Trainer: Richard Whitaker
Jockey: Ben Curtis
I wasn’t surprised to see late support for ROUND THE ISLAND at his beloved Pontefract on Monday and the 6yo was a tad unlucky not to come away earning as he encountered bad traffic problems in the straight. A five times winner at that course, he was asked to make his bid up the far rail only to get blocked, and when eventually seeing daylight it was too late. His draw in 20 will either be a huge help or a hindrance, but after the latest offering he has to be of interest.
Race 6: WENTWORTH FALLS (1)
Trainer: Geoff Harker
Jockey: Sam James
Trainers are not averse to letting horses run quickly at this stage of the season, especially the handicappers. The decision to bring WENTWORTH FALLS out again just four days after his eye-catching run at York is a bold one but can bear fruit. The selection lost ground when stumbling leaving the gate and was making headway when denied a clear run approaching the distance. In the circumstances, he ran a blinder to finish fifth in an 18-runner field, and can go well again.
Bath Best Bets
Race 2: HARRY HURRICANE (1)
Trainer: George Baker
Jockey: Josephine Gordon
An outside draw isn’t necessarily a detriment on the sprint course at Bath and the fact that HARRY HURRICANE breaks from gate eight of eight is therefore not offputting. This powerfully built individual served it up from the front and only reeled in two strides from the post at Salisbury last week and if getting onto the lead again, compensation awaits.
Kempton Best Bets
Race 5: MASTER ARCHER (2)
Trainer: James Fanshawe
Jockey: David Probert
There are four course winners in the field but if able to transfer his smart form on grass to the Poly MASTER ARCHER will be hard to beat. The Class 3 in which he finished fourth to Nuits St George’s on only his second outing of the year was a better race than this and that performance cries out for further improvement, hopefully as far as the winner’s enclosure.
Race 6: PLUNGER (4)
Trainer: Paul Cole
Jockey: Raul Da Silva
PLUNGER scored on his racecourse debut here two years ago since when he’s graduated into a miler who can be too keen for his own good. That was the case at Windsor last time where after making the early running and being swallowed up, he rallied in the tamest fashion to post a frame finish behind Grapevine. His trainer has used him parsimoniously this year and that softy softly approach can bear fruit here.
