Neil Morrice: Dundalk & UK Best Bets – Friday 16 October 2020

Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Friday’s racing taking place at Dundalk (including video analysis), Haydock Park, Newcastle, Redcar, Fakenham and Uttoxeter.

DUNDALK BEST BETS

It’s two years since FRANKUUS was competing in Listed races and more than three since he took out a Group 3 at Haydock. The gelded son of Frankel then spent a year on the injury list before two worryingly poor runs for David O’Meara in July. The six-year-old finds himself in the last chance saloon, but the effects of a change of scenery could spark new life into this talented individual in the apprentice claiming race.

BURNING LAKE has threatened to win on several occasions since moving to Ireland from Lambourn, latterly making Cracking Name fight tooth and nail for the money at Tipperary. That was his first outing for three months, and if further progress can be exacted he has a good chance of at least finishing in the money.

This marks a poignant part of the evening as the featured Mercury Stakes is run in honour of former champion jockey Pat Smullen. It’s attracted a field that deeply missed talent would be proud of and can go to the exciting juvenile MUKER. By some way, the least exposed runner in the 14-strong field, the son of emergent sire Mehmas has shown tenacity to get home in tight finishes to novices at Newcastle and York but more importantly made a good fist of it with dual Group winner Tactical in the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot in June. On each occasion he’s produced impressive natural speed, and granted his healthy weight allowance from the older MY LAUREATE and URBAN BEAT, he can follow in the hoof prints of fellow two-year-old Dr Simpson, successful in the corresponding race 12 months ago.

Former Godolphin-owned ZAHEE made a pleasing start for his new connections when chasing home the more than useful Sindhia over seven furlongs here at the beginning of the month. The Iffraaj five-year-old responded positively to the fitting of a first-time hood and should appreciate cutting back to six in this maiden. He faces stern opposition from Grey Streak and Quiet Place but should prove up to the task at hand.

WREA GREEN seeks a first win after two highly promising efforts at Beverley and Catterick and has already shown that soft ground holds no perils for her. The daughter of Mayson should be just as effective over this longer six furlongs trip.

The hooded CONQUERING EAGLE encounters more testing underfoot conditions than for his educational runs at Sandown but as a son of Lope De Vega should relish them. Those two novices at the Esther course were hotly contested and won by One Ruler and Maximal who have gone on to bolster the form. It wouldn’t take much more improvement from the colt for him to open his account.

This could come a tad quick for Henrik who had a hardish race at Chelmsford, and the one to cash in with is BLOWING WIND. The Markaz colt wasn’t disgraced in Listed company at Ripon and has subsequently finished second in successive nurseries at Chester and Catterick. Back into novice company here, he can take full advantage of the 7lb he receives from his penalised rival.

This has the makings of a red hot nursery with Mirage Mac carded favourite in defence of an unbeaten three-race record. Turandot is one that will represent value, but at the base of the handicap, WAITINGONANALIBI makes most appeal. She narrowly lost out to Elusive Artist when the pair pulled clear in a similar race last week and just needs to show that this doesn’t come too soon. She’s a course and distance winner and has raced almost exclusively on the all-weather.

VIVE LA DIFFERENCE has been in the wilderness since posting back-to-back successes here last December. In ten subsequent outings, the gelding has managed only one frame finish, but interestingly that happened on his latest run at Ayr. He’s got himself back on a winnable mark and could be in a position to take advantage on both all-weather and turf in the coming weeks.

SENITA returns to the North having met trouble in running before her eclipse as a 1-6 shot at Doncaster last time. The daughter of Frankel had beaten all but the smart Danilova at Newmarket on debut and is best judged on that, which if repeated would see her safe home.

SPYCATCHER did too much too soon in a Listed race at the St Leger fixture, running with the choke out and having nothing left at the business end. However, the Vadamos colt had given multiple scorer Gear Up plenty to think about in a Group 3 at York on his previous outing and must be given the chance to put the record straight, as he’s been in great form at home.

Bargain basement purchase DOUX PRETENDER hasn’t run for well over a year but if retaining anything close to his old ability would carry these selling platers. The dual novice hurdle scorer contested a Listed hurdle and was placed in his only chase before enduring training issues, but could be dangerous to all on the first run for new connections.

MEDALLA DE ORO landed a maiden hurdle here in March and returns to the Norfolk track after his intended race at Stratford was abandoned. He enjoys these tight turns, and after a couple of near-misses at Southwell in July is poised to go one better for a stable just starting to run into some form.

GIVE US A SWIG is part of an increased injection of horses into this stable on the back of a Cheltenham Festival winner for the owner and looks the part on this debut under Rules. The Trans Island gelding is bred to enjoy some cut in the ground and was an impressive winner of his only point. He should give automatic favourite Wilde About Oscar something to think about.

MORNING VICAR has been all dressed up with nowhere to go, having been taken out of a race last week that looked ideal for him. He finds himself in a wickedly competitive heat in which Young Bull takes the eye on debut over fences, as does McNamaras Band. Morning Vicar hasn’t been the most straightforward horse to train, but on chase debut at Newbury was going well when crashing out at the final ditch in the race won by stablemate Burbank. Chasing has always promised to be his game and having worked and schooled well he can make an impression.