Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Friday’s racing coming your way from Chelmsford City, Southwell and Dundalk.
CHELMSFORD CITY
Race 1 No8 UNDER WRAPS (Nap)
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: Rab Havlin
The impeccably-bred UNDER WRAPS makes abundant appeal on her handicap debut and rates the best bet on the card. The daughter of Kingman has improved from race to race in three maidens on Polytrack, and now reverts to six furlongs which granted the speed of her dam Confidential Lady looks a wise route to take.
Race 2 No5 SHENU
Trainer: David Simcock – Jockey: Jamie Spencer
Several in this novice have troubled the judge but SHENU’s debut third at Newcastle is the best form, even though the American Pharoah colt only beat one home in a four-runner race in which he was beaten two and threequarter lengths by the winner. Importantly he’s worked well since that introduction and with normal progression should have too many guns for his foes.
Race 4 No8 BAYSTON HILL
Trainer: Mark Usher – Jockey: Daniel Muscutt
BAYSTON HILL has notched four course wins here from his last seven outings and is right in the zone to make this number five. He’s almost unbeatable right now over the mile and a quarter trip and has a knack of putting his head in front where it matters in a tight finish. This means the assessor hasn’t killed him, and from his revised mark he’s the one they have to beat.
SOUTHWELL
Race 4 No6 EXCESSABLE (Nap)
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: Duran Fentiman
With old adversary Nick Vedder’s participation based on how he comes out of yesterday’s race at Newcastle, Fibresand specialist EXCESSABLE looks the one to be on from the base level of this handicap. The gelding boasts two successes at the course this winter and is rarely out of the money. He can show with another win that he was good value for his success over Nick Vedder here at the start of the month.
Race 6 No1 BLACKCURRENT
Trainer: Alan Brown – Jockey: Hollie Doyle
BLACKCURRENT has a two from five record since switching to the all-weather before Christmas, latterly scoring in refitted blinkers over course and distance last week. The son of Australian stallion Kuroshio remains at the bottom rung of the class ladder for this follow-up attempt, and as the only obviously in form runner has a strong chance of achieving it.
DUNDALK
Race 2 No14 MELLIFEROUS
Trainer: Joseph O’Brien – Jockey: Shane Crosse
From a good spot in the gate, first-time cheek pieces and stepping up to a more suitable trip there’s plenty to like about MELLIFEROUS in this maiden. She’s up against a tough opponent in Scott Lang but considering how close she came against Toreen Angel here on the first day of the month she can go one better.
Race 5 No5 MAJOR POWER (Nap)
Trainer: Eddie Lynam – Jockey: Shane Crosse
This is the best race on the card from a viewing perspective and I hope it will also be the most financially rewarding, with multiple Polytrack scorer MAJOR POWER again the one to beat. He’s delivered on four of eight visits in the last 14 months and never raced anywhere else. He string together a fine hat-trick a year ago, and came back from a ten months absence to run Whatharm close at the end of January. His 2lb raise for that might not match the progression he will show with the benefit of a race under his belt.
Race 6 No5 SLADE RUNNER
Trainer: Ken Cotter – Jockey: Sam Ewing
Even though he’s been done no favours by the draw, SLADE RUNNER is one of the few that have shown any decent public form of late, and gets the vote therefore by process of elimination. He’s looked happier since joining the Cotter stable and being brought back to sprinting, yielding a win and a second, but now has to show he’s as good back at seven furlongs.
Race 7 No11 BURNING LAKE (Each Way)
Trainer: Joseph Murray – Jockey: Scott McCullagh
BURNING LAKE is not an obvious pick for the apprentice handicap, but with an experienced partner in the saddle can raise his game at a fancy price. He shaped well on debut for his trainer here last month, finishing just out of the money in the race won by St George’s Head. In the ensuing fortnight he’s had the chance to further settle in to his new surroundings.
