Neil Morrice brings you all of his best bets and tips from Thursday’s racing at Sandown Park, Yarmouth, Worcester, Newbury and Doncaster.
SANDOWN PARK
Race 2 No3 DUKEDOM
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: Frankie Dettori
DUKEDOM can spark a good day for Gosden’s Clarehaven stable by opening his account in this interesting maiden. The son of Dubawi didn’t enjoy the rub of the green when runner up to the impressive Sonny Liston over course and distance and has the scope to leave that promising debut effort some way behind.
Race 3 No4 INSPIRAL (Nap)
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: Frankie Dettori
INSPIRAL immediately started to live up to her tall home reputation when taking out a Newmarket maiden on debut and is probably destined for much higher things. She can remain unbeaten by taking the scalp of hat-trick seeker Wild Beauty in this Listed contest.
YARMOUTH
Race 6 No5 CASTANA DIA (Nap)
Trainer: Chris Wall – Jockey: Sebastian Woods
Three-year-old CASTANA DIA should enjoy the upper hand in this sprint handicap, having been narrowly denied in a better race at Newmarket. A course and distance winner here on previous start, she’s in the hands of a trainer that does well with this type of filly, whose family are well known to him.
Race 7 No1 SENSE OF HUMOUR
Trainer: Simon Crisford – Jockey: Rab Havlin
SENSE OF HUMOUR takes the eye equipped with a tongue tie for handicap debut. The Dark Angel filly has shown some ability in each of her three outings and looks the type to do better in this area of the racing spectrum.
WORCESTER
Race 6 No4 ESPRESSINO (Nap)
Trainer: Chris Down – Jockey: Charlie Hammond
ESPRESSINO has taken time to rediscover his good form from 2020 but when doing so at Stratford came home unchallenged. With that success under his belt, the floodgates may open.
NEWBURY
Race 2 No8 BLUEBELL WAY (Nap)
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: John Egan
Trainer/breeder Channon can look forward to a strong showing from BLUEBELL WAY as the Sixties Icon filly moves into handicap company for the first time. Her mark-earning run at this course is better than it looks and improvement is on the cards in this new division.
Race 4 No3 DANCE OF DRAGONS (Each Way)
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Charles Bishop
Gutaifan filly DANCE OF DRAGONS will definitely be better for the race, but having shown promise in her work could creep into the frame at a working man’s price.
DONCASTER
Race 3 No3 GOOD HUMOR
Trainer: Roger Varian – Jockey: Jack Mitchell
GOOD HUMOR returns from an eight-month absence but is considered straight enough to make an impact in colours associated with some top-flight performers over the years. By veteran stallion Distorted Humor out of a mare that cut it at Group level, she will want further in time but can take full advantage of her weight concession from Aratus.
Race 5 No1 GRANTLEY (Nap)
Trainer: Ed Bethell – Jockey: Saffie Osborne
Having shown admirable consistency this season, GRANTLEY could prove hard to dislodge under top weight. A winner at Ripon in the spring, he’s knocked on the door on his last two outings at Hamilton and Haydock and is primed to regain the winning thread.
