Neil Morrice best bets and tips including Breeders’ Cup – 6 November 2021

BREEDERS’ CUP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS – DEL MAR

Race 4 BREEDERS’ CUP FILLY AND MARE SPRINT (Grade 1)

No6 BELLA SOFIA
Trainer: Rudy Rodriguez – Jockey: Luis Saez

Apart from one blip, BELLA SOFIA has an unblemished portfolio and is taken to upstage the odds on GAMINE. On her first foray outside New York, the three-year-old can transfer her excellent Saratoga and Belmont form to the Del Mar dirt and surprise Gamine. The most heavily favoured BC runner is unbeaten around one turn and dominated this race 12 months ago. CE CE could cash in if the market leaders engage in a speed duel.

Prediction: 6-5-4

Race 5 BREEDERS’ CUP TURF SPRINT (Grade 1)

No2 EMARAATY ANA
Trainer: Kevin Ryan – Jockey: Andrea Atzeni

EMARAATY ANA showed he’s a Group 1 horse when landing the Haydock Cup, and is not to be messed with drawn alongside stablemate and last year’s winner GLASS SLIPPERS. He just needs to show he can negotiate a bend as all but one of his races have happened on a straight course. Morning Line favourite GOLDEN PAL sits right alongside them, meaning a scorching pace in likely from the rail. Emaraaty Ana has given off the best signals, really catching the eye in work under Atzeni who is confident of a huge run from the gelding. Of the locals, KIMARI is unbeaten in two this term, and can also take home a cheque.

Prediction: 2-1-9

Race 6 BIG ASS FANS BREEDERS’ CUP DIRT MILE (Grade 1)

No3 GINOBILI
Trainer: Richard Balthus – Jockey: Drayden Van Dyke

Track specialist GINOBILI has put in some blistering workouts and is in a good spot to go gate to wire. He could be tested for early dominance by LIFE IS GOOD, whose sole defeat came at the hooves of the awesome Jackies Warrior, and this inmate of the Pletcher barn occupies massive respect. SILVER STATE can find himself off the pace but will do his best work late. The likely breakneck gallop can play to his strengths, but will the birds have flown?

Prediction: 3-5-1

Race 7 MAKER’S MARK BREEDERS’ CUP FILLY AND MARE TURF (Grade 1)

No4 ROUGIR
Trainer: Cedric Rossi – Jockey: Maxime Guyon

The hottest Filly And Mare in years can go to French raider ROUGIR, whose prospects will increase if there’s a searching pace. The chestnut put in a sustained run to pass everything in the Longchamp straight to take out the Opera, suggesting a move to 11 furlongs will further suit. LOVE has the best form on offer, even though failing to reach for the stars in the way her connections hoped. In a late switch from the Turf, she might have to set her own fractions if she’s to claim the spoils. Bill Mott’s WAR LIKE GODDESS looked stupendous on the track yesterday and figures to earn in her bid to complete a winning nap hand, alongside POCKET SQUARE. If the fractions are slower, this buoyant member of Team Brown could easily poach victory in the Enable silks.

Prediction: 4-6- 2

Race 8 QATAR RACING BREEDERS’ CUP SPRINT (Grade 1)

No2 JACKIE’S WARRIOR (Nap)
Trainer: Steve Asmussen – Jockey: Joel Rosario

Though a costly failure in last year’s Juvenile, JACKIE’S WARRIOR should make no mistake this time. He’s the best one turn horse in the US, has the potential to control the speed from the rail, and will surely be tough to catch. DR. SCHIVEL took out a Grade 1 at Santa Anita in spite of a broken rein and is coming in off a five-race victory sequence. He figures to give the Nap most to do, with C Z ROCKET the best of the roughies.

Prediction: 2-9-3

Race 9 FAN DUEL BREEDERS’ CUP MILE (Grade 1)

No9 MOTHER EARTH (Each Way)
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien – Jockey: Ryan Moore

Coming in off an eight-race campaign might not look the path to glory, but MOTHER EARTH is as tough as nails and has really shone since her midfield finish in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot. The 1,000 Guineas and Prix Rothschild winner rates the best chance of a Coolmore collection this weekend and is a must for exactas and trifectas. SPACE BLUES has very strong recent form but could be vulnerable on ground as fast as this, while his barn mate MASTER OF THE SEAS enters calculations if recapturing his Guineas form from the Spring. MO FORZA was unable to run in this when favourite 12 months ago. He’s met only one defeat in the last two years and could make it a glorious swan song.

Prediction: 9-6-1

Race 10 LONGINES BREEDERS’ CUP DISTAFF ( Grade 1)

No5 CLARIERE (Each Way)
Trainer: Steve Asmussen – Jockey: Ricardo Santana Jr

I think CLARIERE represents the best value of the weekend as a filly that is now not only peaking but is right in the zone. Her five-wide move to open her account in Philadelphia provides that shot of confidence to not only overcome nemesis MALATHAAT but also lower the colours of heavily-bet favourite LETRUSKA, who seeks to make this an eighth career win from nine starts. In a very tight contest, DUNBAR ROAD could light up the board on her final start en route to the breeding sheds.

Prediction: 5-6-11

Race 11 LONGINES BREEDERS’ CUP TURF (Grade 1)

No13 TARNAWA
Trainer: Dermot Weld – Jockey: Colin Keane

With local hope Domestic Spending a late scratch, TARNAWA sees her way to the winning line seem a little smoother. The defending champion has to cope with the widest post, but her Arc second shows she’s as good as ever, and the class act in the field. BOLSHOI BALLET jumps in as a replacement for under the weather Broome and now gets Moore. The one time Epsom Derby favourite has experience of US racing and can get into the mix. Godolphin’s YIBIR has winning form Stateside and needs respecting, while the best of the locals is GUFO, whose trainer is overdue a first BC winner, and this colt could be it.

Prediction: 13-15-11

Race 12 LONGINES BREEDERS’ CUP CLASSIC (Grade 1)

No3 HOT ROD CHARLIE
Trainer: Doug O’Neill – Jockey: Flavien Prat

Derby and Belmont runner-up HOT ROD CHARLIE has the wherewithal to get a handle on the lead and endorse the confidence of his enthusiastic owners with a gate to wire triumph. Coming in off the back of a couple of confidence boosters at Monmouth and Philadelphia, the son of Oxbow can stave off the challenges of barn mates ESSENTIAL QUALITY and KNICKS GO. The former needs to quash the hoodoo of being a BC Juvenile winner, as not one such horse has triumphed in a Classic, while Knicks Go is trying a mile and a quarter for the first time. Derby winner MEDINA SPIRIT carries baggage from Louisville, but since returning from a break has posted back-to-back wins. Bernardini colt ART COLLECTOR is no Cigar, but Bill Mott’s challenger has yet to be tested in a three-spin delivery to remain unbeaten for his new handler.

Prediction: 3-4-6

AINTREE

Race 3 No6 YOUR DARLING (Nap)
Trainer: Ben Pauling – Jockey: Kielan Woods

YOUR DARLING jumped superbly when scoring at Huntingdon and is strongly fancied to complete a hat-trick on a track that should suit. The six-year-old hardly touched a twig, and his stable is just starting to find its feet.

Race 4 No4 TIME TO GET UP (Each Way)
Trainer: Jonjo O’Neill – Jockey: Tom Scudamore

The Grand Sefton Handicap Chase is staged over the famous Aintree fences that can bring out the best in hat-trick seeker TIME TO GET UP. The eight-year-old is ready to start from where he finished off last season for a stable amongst the winners.

WINCANTON

Race 1 No2 GUY
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Jordan Nailor

GUY has been a model of consistency and can endorse the promise of his earning run on seasonal reappearance three weeks ago. He can take the spoils at the main expense of Ouro Branco.

Race 6 No2 SCEAU ROYAL (Nap)
Trainer: Alan King – Jockey: Daryl Jacob

The featured Elite Hurdle can go to SCEAU ROYAL, whose comeback success three weeks ago confirms he’s as good as ever and ready to outclass what is a weaker field than usual for the Grade 2 contest. His main threat is Goshen, whose form is too in and out to put trust in him to fire.

DONCASTER

Race 1 No2 WONDERFUL WORLD (Nap)
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Tom Marquand

WONDERFUL WORLD can go one better than when finishing second in the Brocklesby here on the opening day of the season. He put in an underwhelming effort returned here at the Leger meeting, but gave notice that he’s poised to return to winning ways with a near miss at Newbury last time.

Race 3 No3 KALEIDOSCOPIC (Each Way)
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Silvestre De Sousa

KALEIDOSCOPIC was a sitting duck when having to force the pace at Kempton last week and should be forgiven that run. She’s a filly that is better than she’s produced this year, and is worth another chance to earn in this step into Listed company.

Race 4 No12 BOARDMAN (Each Way)
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: Paul Hanagan

BOARDMAN signalled with an improved display last time that he’s ready to recapture his very smart form from earlier in the season. His trainer is adept at getting the best out of this type of individual, who finds himself back on a workable mark.

Race 6 No10 SAM COOKE (Each Way)
Trainer: Ralph Beckett – Jockey: Rob Hornby

SAM COOKE has tasted his best victories in the North, especially when taking out the opening race at the York August meeting. He has ground conditions in his favour and will be very hard to keep out of the money in the traditional final major handicap of the season.