Neil Morrice: Best Bets & Tips – Saturday 17 July 2021

NEWBURY

Race 2 No7 MAJESTIC DAWN (Each Way)
Trainer: Paul Cole – Jockey: Paul Hanagan

Last year’s Cambridgeshire hero MAJESTIC DAWN made a pleasing reappearance when third to VINTAGER at Windsor, a run that is thought to have sharpened him up. Lightly-raced in the past year, he has operated more effectively in the blinkers he sports today, and may have most to fear from Felix in this Listed contest.

Race 3 No6 ZEEBAND
Trainer: Roger Varian – Jockey: Andrea Atzeni

ZEEBAND takes a striking profile into this valuable handicap, and on only an eighth career start and in a first-time visor can serve it up to his foes. He’s displayed a no-nonsense attitude in his three career successes up to now and can confirm his Newcastle superiority over Margaret Demont.

Race 5 No9 VINTAGE CLARETS (Each Way)
Trainer: Richard Fahey – Jockey: Paul Hanagan

Three colts stand out in the featured Super Sprint in which northern raider VINTAGE CLARETS is preferred to Gubbass and Chipotle. The son of Ardad followed decisive wins at Beverley and Ayr by finishing third to Berkshire Shadow in the prestigious Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot. He shouldn’t mind dropping back to five furlongs today, and that form is possibly stronger than Chipotle’s Windsor Castle Stakes success at the same meeting. Gubbass represents a trainer whose runners have excelled in the race over the years, the only concern being that this is a first sighting of him since his debut win at Leicester in early April.

NEWMARKET

Race 1 No2 VALUE THEORY (Nap)
Trainer: Mark Johnston – Jockey: Joe Fanning

Greenness cost VALUE THEORY dear on her Kempton debut last month. However, the Gleneagles filly is reported to have come on in leaps and bounds with that experience under her belt, and can now produce a more professional attitude in order to open her account.

Race 6 No3 SATONO CHEVALIER
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Pat Dobbs

SATONO CHEVALIER comes across as a colt who is capable of better than he’s shown in two outings so far, and is afforded a chance to put the record straight. If he can eliminate the greenness that hampered him at Nottingham and Windsor he can give his rivals plenty to think about.

RIPON

Race 1 No6 FLASH BETTY (Each Way)
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Rose Dawes

For a filly that has run half-a-dozen times, FLASH BETTY retains an annoying habit of veering when asked to go and win her races. Getting a tune out of the Gregorian filly at the business end is the quest awaiting apprentice jockey Dawes, who partnered the selection at Leicester last time.

Race 2 No2 FIREBOMB (Nap)
Trainer: Bryan Smart – Jockey: Graham Lee

FIREBOMB can utilise the experience card to good effect in this warm-looking maiden. He kept on well when headed at Musselburgh but might gain early control today.

DONCASTER

Race 4 No5 AERION POWER (Nap)
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Mark Crehan

From stall 1 AERION POWER was always fighting a losing battle in the Britannia Stakes, eventually finishing in midfield in that ultra-competitive handicap. Any horse can be excused a below-par run in what is an old fashioned cavalry charge, and this son of Kingman has worked with great gusto since Royal Ascot. He’d done nothing wrong beforehand and is going to enjoy this step up in trip.

Race 5 No7 SEA LA ROSA
Trainer: William Haggas – Jockey: Liam Jones

Although she takes on seasoned older horses, three-year-old SEA LA ROSA really takes the eye off bottom weight in her first handicap assignment. She looked to have done well physically when reappearing on turf at Chepstow, and can preserve her unbeaten record on that surface.

Race 6 No4 POWERALLIED
Trainer: Richard Fahey – Jockey: Charlie O’Dwyer

Chester specialist POWERALLIED looked to be coming to hand when positing a frame finish on the Roodee the other day. While confidence in him is always enhanced at that course, he nevertheless rates a bet switched to the more orthodox Town Moor sprint track.

HAYDOCK PARK

Race 4 No1 ALBAHR (Nap)
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: Frankie Dettori

Dettori teaming up with Appleby on the impeccably-bred ALBAHR is a tempting prospect for punters, and it will take something smart to lower the gelding’s colours. He landed some good bets over course and distance last time, and can defy a 7lb penalty, with well-related newcomer Greatness Awaits one to keep an eye on.

CARTMEL

Race 7 No6 MILLIE THE MINX (Nap)
Trainer: Dianne Sayer – Jockey: Danny McMenamin

I hope the adage ‘everything comes to he who waits’ will ring true with MILLIE THE MINX in the nightcap. The Nap has been in good form all year, winning two handicap hurdles and finishing second in a couple of Hamilton handicaps on the Flat. This versatile performer ran a cracker to occupy the same position at Market Rasen last time and looks booked for another big earning run.

MARKET RASEN

Race 3 No2 HOOPER (Nap)
Trainer: Nicky Henderson – Jockey: Mr Ben French Davis

Prolific scorer HOOPER to beat Camprond is the way this competitive handicap hurdle can pan out. Hooper has very strong claims, taking stock of his narrow defeat here by Copperless last autumn, and the fact that in each of his last three hurdle successes Fffench Davis has been on board. His 7lb claim can again prove a useful asset.

Race 4 No7 FIRE AWAY
Trainer: Laura Morgan – Jockey: Adam Wedge

The featured Summer Plate can fall to FIRE AWAY, winner of five of seven starts over fences since joining his current trainer. The strong traveller faces stiff competition from a handful of in-form rivals of whom Darling Maltaix, Soloman Grey and Mercian Prince should all go into the exotics mix, but Fire Away is carded to go close if getting into a rhythm on first run at this course.

Race 7 No6 VALSEUR DU GRANVAL
Trainer: Tom George – Jockey: Ciaran Gethings

The once mercurial VALSEUR DU GRANVAL has looked a reformed character in recent triumphs at Ludlow and Huntingdon and has his tail up for this hat-trick bid. He should get the fast pace that plays to his strengths so that he can swoop to conquer in the short home straight.