Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing coming your way from Newbury, York, Haydock Park, and Bath.
NEWBURY
Race 2: No8 – MAXIMAL
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Ryan Moore
Stoute struck with his first two juvenile runners this season and in this fascinating novice launches the career of MAXIMAL. The Galileo colt hails from a family the trainer knows all about and has given off some encouraging signals in his preparation. A danger to the selection is Longlai, who has the points on the board after finishing second on his debut at Doncaster.
Race 4: No5 – METHOD (Nap)
Trainer: Martyn Meade – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
METHOD looked the real deal when scorching home on his Doncaster introduction and can stamp his authority on this Listed contest in the hands of the champion jockey. The son of Mehmas looks destined for high honours and should take the spoils on the way to better things.
Race 7: No5 – SUMMERGHAND
Trainer: David O’Meara – Jockey: Harry Bentley
SUMMERGHAND is a sprinter graduating from handicaps to Group company and can show he’s up to the task in hand by taking out this Group 3 Hackwood Stakes. The six-year-old was unlucky not to get up in the Stewards’ Cup and demonstrated that point with a snug triumph in a Class 2 at Pontefract. He has a potent change of gear and can swoop to conquer.
YORK
Race 4: No1 – COMMUNIQUE (Nap)
Trainer: Mark Johnston – Jockey: Joe Fanning
The Group 3 Silver Cup offers COMMUNIQUE a great chance to open his account for the season. The Casamento entire raised his game to chase home Dame Maillot in a Group 2 at the Newmarket July meeting last week and should find this a more straightforward assignment.
Race 5: No11 – SOLID STONE
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: William Buick
The hugely competitive John Smith’s Cup can fall to SOLID STONE, who ever since an impressive comeback win at Sandown has had this race on his radar. Nothing went right for him at Sandown in that he was keen and forced wide, but he picked up so stylishly up the final hill that he was going away from Muraad. While the course, going and trip are ideal, he’s copped a worrying draw in stall 21 of the 22 runners, but has the class to overcome it.
Race 8: No14 – OWNEY MADDEN (Each Way)
Trainer: Martyn Meade – Jockey: Cieren Fallon
Course and distance winner OWNEY MADDEN gets a handy weight for age allowance in this 0-87 all-aged handicap and has the added allure of the champion apprentice in the irons. This takes a further 3lb off the back of the gelding, who will be all the better for his comeback run at Chelmsford a fortnight ago.
HAYDOCK PARK
Race 1: No1 – ZLATAN (Nap)
Trainer: Ed De Giles – Jockey: Rossa Ryan
Top weight ZLATAN has improved from race to race in three outings since racing resumed. This strong traveller made Sudona fight for the spoils at Pontefract and should now be spot on to deliver a first winning run for almost two years.
BATH
Race 1: No3 – TWILIGHT HEIR (Nap)
Trainer: Michael Bell – Jockey: Kieren Shoemark
Rookie stallion Twilight Son has made a bright start to his career and in TWILIGHT HEIR he has a winner waiting to happen. He narrowly missed out on his only start when trained in Ireland and has worked promisingly ahead of this debut for a Bell stable.
Race 6: No6 – BAYSTON HILL
Trainer: Mark Usher – Jockey: Nicola Currie
All the better for a spin round here last month, BAYSTON HILL can return to winning ways under a jockey that can do no wrong at present. The six-year-old has winning form here, albeit three years ago, and if that recent outing has blown away the cobwebs he can deliver.
