Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Friday’s racing taking place at Dundalk, Cheltenham, Newbury, Doncaster, and Newcastle.
DUNDALK
Race 2: No1 – SCHERZANDO
Trainer: Denis Hogan – Jockey: Paddy Harnett
With a top apprentice booked, SCHERZANDO can successfully defend his unbeaten record at the track. His only success came last time at the start of the month when he dug deep to repel Kinch in a driving finish. It followed a series of placed efforts on grass and suggested the selection can continue to make his mark on Polytrack.
Race 3: No5 – BASHARAT (Each Way)
Trainer: Andrew Slattery – Jockey: Ben Coen
Several in this nursery have hinted that their winning turn is near, with respect afforded to joint top weights Anjalawi and I Am Magnetic, but at a bigger price, BASHARAT can go well. The Bated Breath colt has been easy to back on all three outings but nevertheless shown ability the last twice to earn himself a handicap mark. He’s looked happier over today’s trip of five furlongs and can be competitive.
Race 6: No10 – VERMILLION CLIFFS (Nap)
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien – Jockey: Jamie Heffernan
The Leopardstown debut run of VERMILLION CLIFFS marks him out as the one to beat in this stayers’ maiden. The Galileo colt went off a 20-1 shot in that 15-runner maiden but excelled himself to run Lobo Rojo to a neck. Now switched to Polytrack, he can endorse all the promise shown that day by going one better.
Race 8: No6 – INDIGNATION
Trainer: John McConnell – Jockey: Colin Keane
INDIGNATION has good form at the track, having chased home Narynkol in a maiden last winter. The Frankel gelding again showed ability when making the frame on handicap debut at Fairyhouse in July, and on just a fifth career start this evening has scope to progress towards a first win. The ones to threaten and for inclusion in all exotics are Time And Money and top weight Moving Forward, both of whom also arrive in good order.
CHELTENHAM
Race 1: No2 – ASK FOR GLORY (Nap)
Trainer: Paul Nicholls – Jockey: Harry Cobden
ASK FOR GLORY can take the first race run at Cheltenham this season and live up to a tall home reputation. The Fame And Glory gelding has undergone wind surgery since a wide margin success over hurdles at Wincanton and been doing everything right at home.
Race 4: No2 – ROUGE VIF
Trainer: Harry Whittington – Jockey: Daryl Jacob
ROUGE VIF was amongst the top novices over fences last season, landing the Kingmaker Chase at Warwick and battling on for a creditable third to Put The Kettle On in the Arkle. He now embarks on a career in handicaps in a wickedly competitive two miler, but is considered straight enough to do himself justice.
Race 7: No7 – NANABELLE
Trainer: Nicky Henderson – Jockey: Jack Tudor
In a race where the least experienced runners could easily dominate the market, NANABELLE can strike a first blow for her trainer since her arrival from France. Unbeaten in two hurdles over there, she failed to menace on her debut out of Seven Barrows but is going to love the easy conditions and is a lot better than she showed.
NEWBURY
Race 1: No12 – ACHELOIS (Nap)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: David Probert
Fillies could dominate this maiden and while Statement in worth consideration after a couple of near-misses ACHELOIS makes more appeal following a near miss on soft ground at Newmarket. She ran the useful Divine Light to half a length and holds strong claims if able to repeat that level of form.
Race 2: No14 – WALLEM
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Rob Hornby
As a son of German Derby winner Sea The Moon, WALLEM is bred to prefer the testing underfoot conditions he’ll experience here, and can help secure a bright start to proceedings for his trainer. He went down in a photo to Top Of The Pops on debut at Leicester and has come on in leaps and bounds for that run.
Race 9: No3 – EDDIEMAURICE (Each Way)
Trainer: John Flint – Jockey: Imogen Mathias
On a first run on the Flat since the spring of 2018, EDDIEMAURICE can get into the shake-up in the nightcap. In a select campaign over jumps last winter he scored over hurdles here in January and ran well when last seen in a chase at this course in late February. He’s up against some similar types but can put in an earning run.
DONCASTER
Race 4: No7 – KING’S LYNN (Nap)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
With few miles on the clock, KING’S LYNN has an opportunity to avenge his defeat by Starman here in August and show his midfield placing in the Silver Cup at Ayr was all wrong. The Cable Bay colt attracted a welter of support on each occasion and could easily jump out as a springer in the market for this less onerous task.
Race 6: No6 – KALEIDOSCOPIC
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Silvestre De Sousa
KALEIDOSCOPIC is the joker in the pack in this tricky-looking handicap, having seen too much daylight without cover when finishing last but one to Iconic Choice at Newmarket last time. She’s better judged on an earlier triumph at Sandown and shouldn’t be dismissed lightly getting plenty of weight from her foes on ground that will suit.
NEWCASTLE
Race 7: No5 – STARSHIBA (Nap)
Trainer: David Elsworth – Jockey: Joey Haynes
The value in this novice stakes lies with STARSHIBA, whose main rivals Alexej and Habit Rouge have to carry penalties. The selection is a beautifully-bred son of Acclamation that ran a cracker in a Kempton nursery. That followed a couple of other earning runs by the colt, who deserves a change of luck.
