Neil Morrice best bets and tips – Friday 21 January 2022

MEYDAN 

Race 2 Jumeirah Derby Trial
No7 NEW KINGDOM (Nap)
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: William Buick

NEW KINGDOM started paying off his 800,000 Guineas price tag with a stylish success at Haydock last September and is an exciting prospect going forward for his top connections. He’s impressed in his training and can prove a match for Classic Trial runner-up Sed Maarib.

Race 3 UAE 2000 Guineas Trial
No3 ALBAHR
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: William Buick

Another Dubawi colt goes under the spotlight as ALBAHR switches to dirt after being taken out at the start of the Juvenile at the Del Mar Breeders’ Cup. He concluded a four race winning streak with a stylish Grade 1 triumph at Woodbine, and if able to transfer that level of form can stave off the challenge of recent course and distance winner Quality Boone.

Race 4 AL RASHIDIYA (Group 2)
No1 ART DU VAL
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: William Buick

Although unable to add to his career tally in three outings at last year’s Carnival, the fact that Buick has sided with the gelding is a strong sign that he’s given out the right signals in his work. Bedouin’s Story is a big threat on the basis of his excellent Newmarket form in the autumn, and interestingly scored on his first outing at the 2021 Carnival for Saeed Bin Suroor. Veteran Lord Glitters was third in a tight finish to the corresponding race 12 months ago after landing the Jebel Hatta at last year’s World Cup night card. He also gained a trademark ‘late swoop’ win in the Bahrain International Trophy, and is the main threat to the selection on that evidence.

Prediction: 1st ART DU VAL, 2nd Lord Glitters, 3rd Bedouin’s Story

Race 5 AL FAHIDI FORT (Group 2)
No8 LAND OF LEGENDS
Trainer: Saeed Bin Suroor – Jockey: Frankie Dettori

With each of the last 5 renewals of this on its CV, Godolphin is again in a good position to extend that impressive sequence. Its 2021 winner LAND OF LEGENDS is back for more under Frankie Dettori, and has to be taken seriously on the basis of his solid run to finish just out of the frame in the Dubai Turf on World Cup night. His ability to go well fresh is of huge importance, and vibes from the training track speak favourably for him staging a repeat. Charlie Appleby’s Naval Crown plundered the Meydan Classic here before finishing fourth in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket. He found only Creative Force his superior in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot to show that tonight’s seven furlongs is probably his optimum trip. One that is hard to weight up, and the undoubted joker in the pack is Storm Damage, a winner of three of his four starts and only beaten in that same Jersey Stakes, after which his form picked up. A fourth possible for the ‘Boys In Blue’ is La Barrosa, though he needs to bounce back from an underwhelming first run back here a fortnight ago.

Prediction: 1st LAND OF LEGENDS, 2nd Naval Crown, 3rd Storm Damage, 4th La Barrosa

Race 6 DUBAWI STAKES (Group 3)
No3 CANVASSED
Trainer: Doug Watson – Jockey: Andrea Atzeni

CANVASSED can underline his claims for major sprint honours this year by taking out this race on the straight 1200 metres track for trainer Watson. Winner of a marquee contest is Super Saturday last year, the Shamardal gelding stamped himself the best local sprinter when third in the Golden Shaheen. He’s ready for this first outing in 300 days and can prove more than a match for stablemate Al Tariq and Freedom Fighter. Al Tariq was a dual scorer here in 2021 and demonstrated his well being by taking out a race at Jebel Ali in late November. Freedom Fighter had good form in the US for Bob Baffert, and is a fascinating runner for rookie trainer Bhupat Seemar.

Prediction: 1st CANVASSED, 2nd Freedom Fighter, 3rd Al Tariq

Race 7 No1 REBEL’S ROMANCE
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: William Buick

With just a single defeat in five career starts, UAE Derby hero REBEL’S ROMANCE could prove too hot for his nightcap rivals to handle. He’s unbeaten in two at Meydan, took out that Classic by a wide margin, and surely has more to offer after doing well physically since last seen in public. It won’t be straightforward for the selection however, and respect is paid to Desert Peace and Big Team who were separated by just a neck in testing conditions on the turf track on New Year’s Day and should be equally at home switching back to dirt, in a race in which Dubai Icon is also capable of troubling the judge.

Prediction: 1st REBEL’S ROMANCE, 2nd Desert Peace, 3rd Big Team, 4th Dubai Ico

LINGFIELD PARK

Race 2 No8 TIMELESS BEAUTY
Trainer: Fergal O’Brien – Jockey: Adrian Heskin

This is the best jumping card run at Lingfield for quite a while, and in this mares’ novices’ handicap chase first time cheek pieces can help TIMELESS BEAUTY maintain her wonderful run of consistency. This sound jumper couldn’t cope with Slipway at Southwell, but that was only her third outing over fences, while she’s getting a decent weight concession from her rivals.

Race 5 No1 BROKEN HALO (Nap)
Trainer: Paul Nicholls – Jockey: Harry Cobden

All the evidence points to wide margin Exeter scorer BROKEN HALO being smart, and a horse to follow. He did us a favour in spite of being a big market drifter that day. He’s taken his race well and is strongly fancied to follow-up for the champion trainer.

Race 6 No1 GOWEL ROAD
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies

GOWEL ROAD was a dual winner at Newbury in novice and handicap hurdles last season. Although out of his depth at the Cheltenham Festival, he’s made a solid start to the current campaign, and can build on a Cheltenham success in November and earning run in a better race back at Newbury last time.

Race 7 No10 CHAMBORD
Trainer: Venetia Williams – Jockey: Charlie Deutsch

Lingfield is not the best draining track, and that is good news for CHAMBORD, who can’t have it deep enough. The ten-year-old was very impressive on his first run of the season and first since wind surgery at Exeter, and from what looks a still tempting mark can stage a repeat.

MARKET RASEN

Race 4 No1 NASHVILLE NIPPER (Nap)
Trainer: Toby Lawes – Jockey: Tom Cannon

As a well backed favourite, NASHVILLE NIPPER came home unchallenged at Plumpton which might prove a turning point for the top weight. He had previously posted a series of frame finishes and proved difficult to win with, but he should now return to the track with confidence levels on a high.

Race 5 No4 HIDDEN BEAUTY
Trainer: Fergal O’Brien – Jockey: Paddy Brennan

There are several well regarded mares in this bumper, with respect paid to both Fairy Gem and Nell’s Bells, but HIDDEN BEAUTY got the job done handily enough when well supported on her Ffos Las introduction. The Kapgarde mare revelled in the easy conditions, and should pay to follow.

Race 6 No5 SOUTHERN SAM
Trainer: Richard Bandey – Jockey: Harry Bannister

SOUTHERN SAM patently needed his first outing for Bandey at Ffos Las, yet still finished a creditable five lengths third. After looking beaten he stayed on again at the finish and should be a player in this competitive three mile chase as long he he avoids the bounce factor.

SOUTHWELL

Race 1 No6 EEH BAH GUM
Trainer: Kevin Ryan – Jockey: Ella McCain

EEH BAH GUM’s form tailed off on his final couple of starts last summer but he’s been freshened-up by the move to a new trainer. If ready for this return to action he can get into the shake-up.

Race 2 No8 SKY LEGEND (Nap)
Trainer: Hugo Palmer – Jockey: Ross Coakley

Galileo colt SKY LEGEND shaped with a deal of promise to trouble the judge behind Nobel on debut at Kempton. If coming on by the usual amount into this second start he can give the penalised Last Ammo,plenty to think about.

Race 8 No3 ARLECCHINO’S GIFT
Trainer: Mark Usher – Jockey: Daniel Muscutt

ARLECCHINO’S GIFT justified late market support to score a shade snugly at Lingfield on his first start in four months. He has to overcome a wider than ideal draw, but if getting out well and into a stalking position he can make it back-to-back successes.

NEWCASTLE

Race 5 No8 MOTHER SHIPTON (Each Way)
Trainer: Kevin Ryan – Jockey: S James

Although MOTHER SHIPTON’s future almost certainly lies in handicap, the Showcasing filly can take a hand in the finish of this maiden coming back from a short break. She showed hints of ability in both her starts at Haydock and has trained well on an all-weather surface at home.

Race 7 No6 TOMMY TAYLOR (Nap)
Trainer: Grant Tuer – Jockey: Christian Howarth

TOMMY TAYLOR posted a 20-1 shock when scoring over course and distance at the start of the month and has never run badly on the Tapeta surface since joining his trainer from Ireland. There could easily be more progression to be eked out of him.

Place Accumulater Perm (Races 1-7)

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

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