Neil Morrice: Best Bets & Tips – Saturday 1 May 2021

NEWMARKET

Race 4 Betfair Exchange Jockey Club Stakes (Group 2)

No4 SIR RON PRIESTLY (Nap)
Trainer: Mark Johnston – Jockey: Franny Norton

St Leger second SIR RON PRIESTLEY indicated that he’s very much gone the right way with a convincing comeback success in a Listed race at Nottingham. A winner of six of his last eight races, he’s very much the stable’s #1 in this historic race and can state a firm case for the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Race 5 QIPCO 2,000 GUINEAS (Group 1)

No7 MASTER OF THE SEAS

Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: William Buick

MASTER OF THE SEAS has the points on the board as a huge box ticker in our first Classic. The son of Dubawi scored over the course and distance when taking out the Craven Stakes a fortnight ago and is William Buick’s pick out of the two Godolphin runners. He has guaranteed fitness on his side and retains the hood that assisted him towards that Group 3 triumph. His stable companion One Ruler was a Group 3 winner over a mile here in the autumn before beating all but Mac Swiney in the Group 1 Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster. His form is a tad better than Master Of The Seas’ and yet the stable jockey appears to have deserted him. Although having no luck with his runners in our trials so far, Aidan O’Brien’s Battleground is afforded the greatest respect with Frankie Dettori in the irons. But Ryan Moore has opted for Wembley, a Galileo colt that hit numerous crossbars either side of breaking his maiden last year, suggesting he has found something during the close season.

Prediction: 1st MASTER OF THE SEAS, 2nd Battleground, 3rd One Ruler, 4th Wembley

Race 8 No5 CROSSFORD

Trainer: Charles Hills – Jockey: Ryan Moore

In this teasing three-year-old handicap CROSSFORD could be the one. He ran a cracker first time back here when beating all but Bullace in a Class4 but that has put the cutting edge on him.

THIRSK

Race 1 No13 WEE LOCH LASS (Nap)

Trainer: David O’Meara – Jockey: Danny Tudhope

With the benefit of a pleasing first run, Gutaifan filly WEE LOCH LASS looks the one to beat and can resist the challenges of a couple of eye taking colts. She finished strongly behind Lady Ayresome at Beverley and will have learned much from it.

Race 3 No15 STORTING (Each Way)

Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Tony Hamilton

STORTING a has not been without his issues, but remains the sort of horse that of putting it all together can pick up some nice races this year including this Thirsk Hunt Cup. He wasn’t beaten far on reappearance in the Spring Cup at Newbury but might prefer this turning track from what looks a perfect draw. The longer his jockey waits to release his challenge, the more confident I will be.

GOODWOOD

Race 6 No4 GENERAL LEE (Nap)

Trainer: Paul Cole – Jockey: Cieren Fallon

This course had issues with watering earlier in the week which explains why field sizes are smaller than usual. However, this maiden has stood up pretty well, and Lope De Vega colt GENERAL LEE has plenty going for him. The selection beat all but Baradar on his only previous outing in a Newbury maiden last summer and has given all the right signals in his recent training at Whatcombe.

Race 7 No4 EAGLE ONE

Trainer: Amanda Perrett – Jockey: Kieran Shoemark

Perrett rarely leaves her local fixture without an accompanying cheque and EAGLE ONE could be the horse to provide it. The Gleneagles gelding raised his game to trouble the judge when an 80-1 chance on Polytrack back in early January and that effort has obtained him his handicap mark as he switches direction.

UTTOXETER

Race 4 No8 VIVE LE ROI

Trainer: Tony Carroll – Jockey: Harry Bannister

Veteran VIVE LE ROI scratched from a race with a handful of runners the other day and, even though preferring to lead, should be happier in this bigger field. Whilst my selection hasn’t won for a while there’s no question he’s on a fair mark and can demonstrate it by going tape to line.

Race 6 No3 I CAN’T EXPLAIN

Trainer: Kim Bailey – Jockey: David Bass

The most interesting candidate in this three runner beginners’ chase is I CAN’T EXPLAIN. The eight-year-old was very well regarded at his former trainer’s and with few miles on the clock has time to show his true potential on what is only a second start over fences, and second for Kim Bailey.

Race 7 No4 DRAKES WELL (Nap)

Trainer: David Bridgwater – Jockey: Brendan Powell

DRAKES WELL proved a costly favourite when odds-on at Fontwell but came back with a genuine excuse after losing much more ground at the start than he was eventually beaten by. His other two runs in novice hurdles were rock solid and now switched to fences in a handicap he makes abundant appeal.

DONCASTER

Race 3 No1 AERION POWER

Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Mark Cretan

Stoute’s decision to claim off AERION POWER alleviates the penalty the colt picked up when scoring at Newcastle in what proved a great day for Freemason Lodge last month. Having cost his Thai owners a king’s ransom, he is now ready to start showing it was money wisely spent.

Race 5 No2 TWILIGHT CALLS (Nap)

Trainer: Henry Candy – Jockey: David Probert

TWILIGHT CALLS ended up being a ‘nearly’ horse with defeats in all three starts as a juvenile, but kept smart company and was unlucky not to win. The son of Twilight Son, who Candy trained with aplomb, has strengthened up into a most striking individual and can take out this sprint on the way to much better things.

Place Accumulater Perm (Races 1-7)

3, 6 x 5 x 1 x 6, 4 x 2 x 5, 4 x 4

R8