Neil Morrice brings you all of his best bets and tips from Saturday’s racing at Ascot, York, Newcastle, Newmarket and Salisbury.
ASCOT
Race 2 Princess Margaret Keeneland Stakes (Group 3)
No10 SYSTEM
Trainer: Richard Hannon – Jockey: Pat Dobbs
SYSTEM can confirm her superiority over Desert Dreamer for a stable that has a good record in this race over the years. The daughter of Galileo Gold went off a 22-1 no-hoper when beating her rival by a neck in a Listed race at Newmarket and has delighted her connections in subsequent work at home.
Race 4 No8 ALDAARY (Each Way)
Trainer: William Haggas – Jockey: Tom Marquand
ALDAARY looked a horse with massive potential when scoring by a wide margin over course and distance on seasonal return. The gelding was all at sea on soft ground at Goodwood on next outing, and a watching brief is advised with thunderstorms in the weekend forecast. If they fail to materialise, he is a definite bet and can build on his solid run when just out of the money in a Class 2 handicap at the Royal meeting here.
Race 5 KING GEORGE VI AND QUEEN ELIZABETH STAKES (Group 1)
No3 LOVE (Nap)
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien – Jockey: Ryan Moore
Derby winners are not commonplace on the ‘King George’ roll of honour these days, with Galileo the last Premier Classic victor to strike gold in the country’s major midsummer horse race. It’s a statistic Adayar tries to break for Godolphin, and his chances have been boosted by the exploits of third home Hurricane Lane since Epsom. Charlie Appleby has exuded quiet confidence in the Frankel colt, who along with Irish Derby second Lone Eagle receives a healthy allowance from the older brigade. Saudi Cup and Sheema Classic winner Mishriff was not disgraced in finishing third to St Mark’s Basilica in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes, while five-year-old Broome is closely matched with Wonderful Tonight on Hardwicke Stakes running over course and distance last month. Furthermore, the Australian went on to grab the Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud in decisive fashion and is making up for lost time. As the rank outsider, Broome has to be of interest for the exotics at least, while Wonderful Tonight’s chances could hinge on how strong a pace the former sets. If Broome elects to lead it will be for the benefit of stablemate LOVE, whose chances will elevate if the forecast thunderstorms fail to arrive. Unbeaten in three Group 1s in as many starts last year, Love confirmed she’d trained on when holding Audarya in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes and she should be even more effective moving up to a mile and a half today. Coolmore has had to take the blow of losing her incomparable sire Galileo in recent weeks, but LOVE is poised to lay down a marker for the Horse Of The Year accolade, and will surely be hard to beat.
Prediction: 1st LOVE, 2nd Wonderful Tonight, 3rd Broome, 4th Adayar
YORK
Race 3 Sky Bet York Stakes (Group 2)
No1 ARMORY (Nap)
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien – Jockey: Jamie Heffernan
Mohaafeth seeks to complete a nap hand of victories and remain unbeaten this season but might have to play second fiddle to ARMORY. Aidan O’Brien’s colt is open to improvement on just a third start this year and can pay a compliment to ‘King George’ favourite Love, who beat him a length and a half into third in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot. Armory had previously landed Chester’s Huxley Stakes in convincing style and will be a tough nut to crack.
Race 4 No5 OUTSIDE WORLD
Trainer: Mark Johnston – Jockey: Franny Norton
OUTSIDE WORLD failed by the width of a well-smoked cigarette to score on debut at Lingfield and is set to go one better in this interesting novice stakes. The grey has a top rung pedigree, being by Iffraaj out of a mare that was unlucky not to win the 1,000 Guineas, and could be one of the best juvenile prospects in his trainer’s powerful stable.
Race 6 No8 CMON KENNY
Trainer: Ian Williams – Jockey: Cam Hardie
As the least experienced in the field and with the added boost of first-time cheekpieces, CMON KENNY could be the answer for a stable in form. Having got home by a whisker on handicap debut at Sandown he is now set to consolidate.
NEWCASTLE
Race 5 No7 MY SWALLOW
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Kevin Stott
Stoute has his handicappers in rude health and can take out this Class 3 with MY SWALLOW. The selection has gone close on three of four starts this year and looked a winner waiting to happen when chasing home Surprise Picture at Yarmouth last time. With track/trip/ground all in his favour, he should prove hard to beat.
Race 7 No2 MOSHAAWER (Nap)
Trainer: Roger Varian – Jockey: Jack Mitchell
This is a competitive all-aged handicap in which the three-year-olds can hold sway. MOSHAAWER takes a mark of 93 into battle on his debut in this division but the Frankel colt has shown he’s a strong stayer, while the form of his Doncaster novice success has worked out. In completing a hat-trick he can stave off the challenges of Hasty Sailor and Second Slip.
NEWMARKET
Race 4 No2 CAIRN GORM (Nap)
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Joe Fanning
CAIRN GORM really takes the eye as the only bet on this card, granted he would have finished a fair bit closer here last time without having to run on three shoes, having spread a plate at the start. A triple scorer from just six outings as a juvenile, he’s been given plenty of time to develop and should be all the better for that unlucky run earlier in the month.
SALISBURY
Race 2 No6 KINGSTON STAR (Nap)
Trainer: Henry Candy – Jockey: Luke Morris
Sprint-bred filly KINGSTON STAR put in an improved run to chase home Clarendon House at a respectful distance at Bath, a run which gained her a mark. She can make further progression in this first handicap assignment.
Race 5 No9 SOVEREIGN SLIPPER (Each Way)
Trainer: Henry Candy – Jockey: Luke Morris
SOVEREIGN SLIPPER has only traces of form to bring to the table, but getting weight from all eight of his rivals and with room for improvement, he could easily trouble the judge.
Place Accumulater Perm (Races 1-7)
5, 2 x 6, 2 x 1 x 1 x 9, 3 x 3 x 1, 7
R16
