Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Friday’s racing taking place at Doncaster, Chester, Salisbury, and Sandown Park!
DONCASTER
Race 4: BOMBARDIER FLYING CHILDERS STAKES (Group 2)
No10 – SACRED (Nap)
Trainer: William Haggas – Jockey: Tom Marquand
The Lir Jet sets the standard from the colts in this electric sprint but the filly SACRED can prove his master. The daughter of Exceed And Excel impressed when breaking her maiden at the first time of asking at Newmarket in June, before backing that up with a three-quarter length defeat by Campanelle in the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot. Although she couldn’t peg back Miss Amulet in the six furlongs Lowther Stakes at York, the Ascot form has been heavily boosted by the winner, while the selection won’t mind dropping back to the minimum trip and is the one to beat.
Race 5: BET 365 DONCASTER CUP (Group 2)
No5 – SPANISH MISSION
Trainer: Andrew Blading – Jockey: William Buick
Balding excels with progressive staying types like SPANISH MISSION who on his debut for the Kingsclere stable powered home in a Listed race at Chester in which evidence he has nothing to worry about regarding Selino. The son of Noble Mission has his tail up and if going forward again can end the impressive winning sequence of Revolver. His six handicap triumphs make him a hard horse to accurately weigh up but considering the allowances granted to him as the only three-year-old in the field he needs respecting.
Race 6: No6 – ONE RULER
Trainer: Appleby – Jockey: William Buick
Buick has a good book of rides for this third day of the St Leger Festival and ONE RULER is strongly fancied to take out this Listed Flying Scotsman Stakes after recording a very good time when opening his account at Sandown. His victim Maximal is very well regarded, while on his only other start at the same track he ran into Etonian, who has bolstered the form.
CHESTER
Race 3: No5 – CHICHESTER (Nap)
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Louis Steward
Cut in the ground is the key to CHICHESTER who is a lightly-raced individual but hopefully a horse worth waiting for. The Dansili colt ran a cracker when second on his Polytrack comeback but a line should be drawn through his disappointing effort last time when beating only one home on handicap debut at Windsor. He list his action on that quick ground and has been a project getting him back for an autumn campaign.
Race 7: No13 – WIGHTMAN
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Miss Sussanah Stevens
WIGHTMAN’s appearance depends on how he gets on at Haydock on Thursday, but if turning up he’ll be a tough nut to crack getting plenty of weight from his foes in this amateur jockeys’ handicap.
SALISBURY
Race 6: No4 – SECOND SLIP (Nap)
Trainer: James Fanshawe – Jockey: George Wood
SECOND SLIP faced an impossible task taking on Crystal Pegasus on debut at Bath but belied his 18-1 odds by chasing home that impressive scorer. He’s come on a bundle for the experience and can open his account in this novice.
Race 7: No1 – TRUESHAN
Trainer: Alan King – Jockey: Martin Harley
TRUESHAN’s consistency was tarnished with an underwhelming display in the Ebor, in which he wasn’t sighted until it was all too late. His previous form in Listed company lends itself well to his chances of taking out this conditions race, including a gutsy success over Alignak at Haydock. His chance today will be boosted with some cut in the ground.
SANDOWN PARK
Race 3: No4 – MAXIMAL (Nap)
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Hollie Doyle
After getting beaten an inch on his Newbury debut, MAXIMAL was unfortunate to lock horns with the useful One Ruler over seven furlongs here. Stepping up to a mile with the unstoppable Hollie Doyle in the iron’s, he should make no mistake and is the best bet on the card.
Race 7: No4 – DUBAI WELCOME
Trainer: Saeed Bin Suroor – Jockey: Callum Shepherd
Dubawi colt DUBAI WELCOME looks a horse for the autumn and makes plenty of appeal on this handicap debut. He’s finished second on both starts at Yarmouth and Kempton, having been unlucky to run into My Frankel at Kempton last time.
