Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Friday’s racing coming your way from Newmarket, Bath, Market Rasen, and Musselburgh.
BEVERLEY
Race 3: No1 – SINGLE (Nap)
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Danny Tudhope
Handicap debutant Frankenstella could be leniently treated on just a third career start and taking a big step up in trip. However, the rock-solid claims of SINGLE make her the one to be on. The daughter of Nathaniel has knocked on the door in her three outings this season, latterly running into the progressive Revolver at Doncaster. Channon adds cheek pieces and has booked a top northern jockey for the Nap, who should prove hard to beat.
Race 6: No3 – BREANSKI
Trainer: Jedd O’Keeffe – Jockey: J Garrity
O’Keeffe appears hell-bent on taking out this first division of the seven furlongs handicap, saddling both Saisons D’Or and BREANSKI. The last-named gelding has improved from run to run this year and may have been unlucky not to peg back Masked Identity when that rival got first run on him at Newmarket last time. He looks the stronger of the pair and can go one better.
Race 8: No6 – IDEAL CANDY (Each Way)
Trainer: Karen Tutty – Jockey: Gemma Tutty
Given the run of the race, IDEAL CANDY has a good chance to turn around recent course and distance placings with Zihaam. The mare might have made her break for home a shade early and was grabbed by her rival in the final strides. If she’s ridden more patiently she can take full advantage of these revised terms and gain her revenge.
CHEPSTOW
Race 5: No6 – INCOGNITO (Each Way)
Trainer: Ed Walker – Jockey: David Probert
Returning from a near 300-day absence, INCOGNITO can strike at the first time of asking for her new connections. The Elusive City filly troubled the judge several times last year, with a near-miss in a Newmarket novice in July possibly her best run. She has been ready to go for a while and can bely her likely double-figure price.
Race 7: No4 – ROTHERWICK (Nap)
Trainer: Paul Cole – Jockey: Mohammed Tabti
ROTHERWICK is an ideal mount for an inexperienced apprentice. The veteran hasn’t won for over two years but signalled with a second over a shorter trip here last time that there could still be a tune to be played from him. He has a solid chance of halting the winning run of top weight Songkran.
HAYDOCK PARK
Race 1: No10 – QUEEN’S FAVOUR (Each Way)
Several in this are making their handicap debuts, including QUEEN’S FAVOUR. The Muhaarar filly hasn’t shown a great deal to date, but did step up on previous efforts to trouble the judge in a mile and a quarter maiden at Beverley. She has shown up well in subsequent gallops.
Race 4: No6 – REVOLVER (Nap)
Trainer: Sir Mark Prescott – Jockey: Luke Morris
REVOLVER has looked a completely different horse since embarking down the handicap route and taking a significant step up in trip this year. After opening his account on reappearance at Pontefract he’s defied two penalties and shown tenacity in extending that winning sequence. Competing from his new mark here, he can further advertise himself as a classic example of a Prescott improver and make it four from four in 2020.
Race 5: No4 – ISPOLINI
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: William Buick
If turning up with his A-game, ISPOLINI should prove hard to beat in this Listed contest. The Dubawi gelding enjoyed a bountiful campaign in Dubai last winter when graduating from handicaps to Group 3 winner. He wasn’t in any way disgraced when fourth to Stradivarius in the Yorkshire Cup and returned from a summer break to collect another Group 3 in Germany. Although well beaten on his first run since the resumption of racing at Newcastle he needed that, and will be fitter today.
Race 8: No5 – RAAED
Trainer: Brian Meehan – Jockey: Dane O’Neill
Cold Front is sure to start a warm favourite after three near-misses but could prove vulnerable to RAAED. The Dark Angel gelding shaped promisingly on debut here when a 50-1 roughie, staying on into third behind Zezenia. Beaten just three-quarters of a length, he’s learned enough to make a big step forward.
LEICESTER
Race 3: No5 – MILLIONAIRE WALTZ (Nap)
Trainer: Paul Cole – Jockey: Cieren Fallon
This looks a hot three-year-old only handicap but without question, the value lies in MILLIONAIRE WALTZ. The colt took time to mature into his frame and only found his true form when notching a clear cut win at Wolverhampton before Christmas. He’s done well during the last seven months and is the dark horse in a race where all but one of the seven contenders can win.
Race 4: No9 – PRETTY PICKLE
Trainer: William Haggas – Jockey: Cieren Fallon
PRETTY PICKLE might have won on her Yarmouth reappearance but for allowing Mountain Dreams to get first run on her. She was running on towards the finish and can add to her trainer’s good record at this track.
Race 6 No9 BLAIRLOGIE (Each Way)
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Tom Marquand
An unexpected deluge put paid to the chances of BLAIRLOGIE when he was well supported for a similar contest at Chepstow last week. From travelling smoothly the gelding went out like a light, but owing to that genuine excuse of the soft ground he’s worth another chance, and can bounce back.
Race 9: No1 – TIAR NA NOG
Trainer: Denis Coakley – Jockey: Charles Bishop
TIAR NO NOG showed she is running into a bit of form when catching the judge’s eye at Windsor last time. Her stable is doing well with its occasional runners, and she will not need to perform much better in order to take out the nightcap.