Neil Morrice shares his best bets and tips for Sunday's racing coming your from Ascot, Doncaster and Carlisle on 27 March 2022.
ASCOT
Race 2 No9 MINELLA YOUNGY (Nap)
Trainer: Gavin Cromwell – Jockey: Luke Dempsey
Although yet to trouble the judge in three starts in Ireland, the fact that MINELLA YOUNGY contests this weak maiden hurdle as a long journeyman makes him appealing. A well-related individual, he will almost certainly up his game, and it will be a surprise if he fails to open his account.
Race 3 No1 THYME WHITE
Trainer: Paul Nicholls – Jockey: Harry Cobden
Nicholls is a hot favourite to retain the trainers’ title and this is the start of a period he really asserted when landing the 2020/21 championship. His Ditcheat yard houses a lot of horses that will like or handle better ground, and in THYME WHITE he has a horse that should have more to give. It’s almost three months since the selection opened his account over fences at Doncaster, but it was a decisive conversion and augers for better to come.
Race 4 No2 MAGISTRATO
Trainer: Paul Nicholls – Jockey: Harry Cobden
MAGISTRATO could well be another for the Nicholls/Cobden combo in this juvenile handicap hurdle. Initial hopes that he could be a Triumph Hurdle horse failed to materialise, but now freshened up by a break he can raise his game and more than earn his keep through the spring weeks.
DONCASTER
Race 4 No3 DAWN OF LIBERATION
Trainer: Richard Hannon – Jockey: Sean Levey
Churchill colt DAWN OF LIBERATION represents the stable that took out this novice stakes in 2021 and has the best form after near misses on all three of his outings last year. He was heavily supported when finding only Subastar too strong at Newmarket in the autumn, and if running to that level will be very hard to beat.
Race 5 No13 GUSTAV HOLST
Trainer: Richard Hannon – Jockey: Thore Hammer Hansen
Respect is afforded to recent scorer Hathlool but one that can cause him problems is bottom weight GUSTAV HOLST. The selection ran well in three of his four races on turf last year in spite of carrying a wind ailment. On his only race since corrective surgery, and on a switch to Polytrack, he again picked up a minor cheque when chasing home Emblem Empire at Chelmsford. He could have been disrespected on this first handicap assignment.
Race 6 No1 CHAIRMANOFTHEBOARD (Each Way)
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Andrea Atzeni
Conditions are perfect for top weight CHAIRMANOFTHEBOARD to make a successful return to a track where he ran a couple of solid races in defeat in the autumn. The six-year-old is reunited with Atzeni, who has won on him and will look for racing real estate in the final furlong as the gelding makes his trademark late bid.
Race 7 No2 CALLING THE WIND (Nap)
Trainer: Richard Hughes – Jockey: David Egan
CALLING THE WIND had a very good record in Class 2 handicaps last year, culminating with a very good second to Farhan in the November Handicap over today’s course and distance. The smooth traveller is one to follow through the 2022 campaign, and can use this conditions race as a bridge to better things.
CARLISLE
Race 2 No8 RELKADAM (Each Way)
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: Nathan Moscrop
The ultra-consistent RELKADAM was up against a handicap snip when a distant second to ARD CHROS here but had previously impressed with his jumping when scoring at Catterick. This is a tricky heat, but he can take home a cheque.
Race 4 No2 ARD CHROS (Nap)
Trainer: William Coltherd – Jockey: Sean Quinlan
A good run from Relkadam should prove a positive omen for ARD CHROS completing a four-timer in the day’s feature. Though 17lb higher than when starting his sequence, he hasn’t stopped improving and can make it three from three at this venue.
