Neil Morrice brings us his best bets and tips for Ffos Las Racecourse, Wolverhampton, Nottingham and Chelmsford City.
FFOS LAS
Race 1 No1 WHISTLEDOWN (Nap)
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Thomas Greatrex
WHISTLEDOWN ended a quiet spell for this stable with her success on handicap debut at Nottingham and now bids for a swift follow-up. The top weight has a capable apprentice taking 3lb off her back and will be hard to beat.
Race 3 No3 VALLEY FORG
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
VALLEY FORGE can play the experience card to good effect in this long-distance maiden. The Dansili colt has edged closer to a win in each of his last two outings, and this looks a more straightforward assignment than those he faced when third at Yarmouth and second at Doncaster.
Race 4 No4 SIYATA (Each Way)
Trainer: Roger Charlton – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
While not having shown much so far, SIYATA could easily raise her game now contesting a handicap. The Siyouni filly has competed exclusively at Grade 1 courses to obtain her mark and is in a new ballpark with definite room for progression.
WOLVERHAMPTON
Race 4 No7 EXCEEDINGLY REGAL (Each Way)
Trainer: William Knight – Jockey: Callum Shepherd
RXCEEDINGLY REGAL has failed to cut the mustard and especially so at Haydock last time, where he did not go unsupported but went out quickly. The gelding remains of interest however, and could do a lot better in this new discipline and over a longer trip.
Race 7 No5 BASHFUL (Nap)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: David Probert
Fifty years since Mill Reef’s Derby, Eclipse, King George and Arc season, his famous colours can be seen to winning effect on BASHFUL in this novice stakes. The Manduro colt will almost certainly find his forte with cut in the ground on turf, but in the meantime can take out a contest in which Bascule and newcomer Samara Star are obstacles he has to overcome.
Race 8 No11 GHOSTLY
Trainer: Mrs Barclay – Jockey: Miss Becky Smith
First-time blinkers helped propel GHOSTLY to a first career success at this course last week. The grey is the only runner with a recent win to his name, and in current form should prove hard to stop.
NOTTINGHAM
Race 3 No3 WHITWELL (Nap)
Trainer: Mick Easterby – Jockey: Joanna Mason
The ultra-consistent WHITWELL is the way to go in this stayers’ handicap. His precision on the track was deservedly rewarded with a battling triumph in an amateur riders’ contest at Ripon. He’s now stepping further up the distance ladder and is ridden by an apprentice that knows him well.
Race 6 No4 BIRD TO LOVE
Trainer: Mark Usher – Jockey: Bradley Harris
BIRD TO LOVE did us a few favours when popping up at 14-1 last week. Her connections have opted to try to strike before she’s reassessed, a ploy that can bear further fruit from the seven-year-old.
CHELMSFORD CITY
Race 2 No2 MANHATTANVILLE (Nap)
Trainer: Ed Dunlop – Jockey: James Doyle
This should play out into a straight fight between previous winners Boondoggle and MANHATTANVILLE. The latter has a speedy pedigree but saw out the seven furlongs well to open his account at Newcastle. He should have no problem in reverting to a sprint distance here.
Race 5 No1 LONG TRADITION
Trainer: Saeed Bin Suroor – Jockey: Ray Dawson
The Godolphin-owned LONG TRADITION took a big step forward when runner-up to Sea Sylph at Windsor. By Shamardal out of a Dubawi mare, he now reverts to a mile, the distance at which he made his second of three starts at this course. He looks ready to open his account and can prove too strong for Bath scorer Voice Of Wisdom.
