Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Thursday’s racing coming your way from Chester, Huntingdon, Worcester, and Chelmsford City on 5 May 2022.
CHESTER
Race 2 No4 ALEEZDANCER
Trainer: Kevin Ryan – Jockey: Kevin Stott
Having lost his way mid-season, ALEEZDANCER bounced back in the autumn to land a tidy gamble at Pontefract. All three of his career successes have happened with some give in the ground, but he’s in good order for this seasonal return, and can claim a cheque.
Race 4 tote.co.uk Proud To Sponsor Chester Racecourse Ormonde Stakes (Group 3)
No3 ALOUNAK (Each Wa)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: David Probert
Albaflora is top on the ratings in this historic race, but the mare might want easier conditions than those that prevailed on Wednesday. Rain is forecast, and should it arrive ALOUNAK would be another to benefit. The Camelot gelding gained his only 2021 success in the soft, but bettered that when runner-up to Invite in a Listed race over this course and distance in September. He finished out of the money when last seen in a Kempton Listed race in November, but has done well for his winter at grass and can shown himself to be better than ever.
Race 7 No7 HOFFMAN
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: David Probert
The powerful Balding/Probert combo should get something out of this Class3 handicap with HOFFMAN. He opened his account when encountering grass for the first time at Brighton, and though needing to show pronounced improvement to claim today’s prize, he’s getting a handy weight concession from his foes, and could easily achieve it.
HUNTINGDON
Race 5 No5 FLINTEUR SACRE
Trainer: Nicky Henderson – Jockey: Nico de Boinville
FLINTEUR SACRE will never be able to hold a candle to his close relative Sprinter Sacre, but the seven-year-old may be able to deliver a belated first success over jumps in this low grade handicap hurdle as he comes back from a freshening break.
Race 7 No5 DIAMOND EGG (Nap)
Trainer: Chris Gordon – Jockey: Tom Cannon
DIAMOND EGG can take this bumper for a syndicate fronted by former trainer Henrietta Knight. He put in an eye taking effort on debut at Newbury and again shaped with a deal of promise to place in a similar race at Kempton. He’s up against a well touted foe in Benefactor today, but is the clear pick of those that have performed under Rules.
WORCESTER
Race 4 No8 KEPY BLANC (Each Way)
Trainer: Philip Hobbs – Jockey: Mr David Maxwell
KEPY BLANC has few miles on the clock and could show improvement coming back from a five-month absence in this handicap hurdle. The former French-based gelding is unexposed and can get into the shake-up.
Race 6 No1 HONOR GREY (Nap)
Trainer: Ben Pauling – Jockey: Kielan Woods
HONOR GREY has reaped a rich harvest with back-to-back successes at Ffos Las and Southwell. The blinkered top weight is up against mainly out of form rivals but can continue on an upward curve by completing a fine hat-trick.
Race 7 No11 CHANTILLY HAZE (Each Way)
Trainer: Phil Dando – Jockey: Conor Ring
The cash has gone west on CHANTILLY HAZE on each of her last two starts. She didn’t find as much when coming under a hard ride at Ludlow, but is worth persevering with now brought back to the minimum trip.
CHELMSFORD CITY
Race 3 No6 INCLEMENT WEATHER
Trainer: Alex Hales – Jockey: Thore Hammer Hansen
INCLEMENT WEATHER opened her account in gutsy fashion at Kempton and is the one to beat if buoyed by that deserved change of luck. The Bated Breath filly has a lovely draw from which to obtain a stalking position, and can swoop to conquer in the straight.
Race 6 No1 SHARPCLIFF
Trainer: John Mackie – Jockey: Connor Beasley
Only 7lb divides top and bottom in this Class4 handicap and SHARPCLIFF has the wherewithal to successfully give weight to his foes, and complete a hat-trick. He was a resounding winner of back-to-back races at Newcastle and York last summer, and can continue that progression.
Race 7 No5 SABYINYO (Nap)
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Nicola Currie
SABYINYO has to go down as a winner without a penalty after his rider momentarily dropped her hands in the closing stages of the Bath maiden won by Little Hustle. The same jockey is back on board, and eager to put the record straight on the grey.
Place Accumulater Perm (Races 1-7)
2, 1 x 3 x 6, 7 x 4, 1 x 3, 4, 2 x 1 x 5, 2
R48
