Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing coming your way from Kempton Park, Newmarket, and Ripon.
Kempton Park Best Best
Race 4: No3 – KING ZAIN (Nap)
Trainer: Mark Johnston – Jockey: Franny Norton
Having the benefit of a run already, Barber Of Seville will know his job but might find newcomer KING ZAIN too hot to handle. The Mark Johnston- trained son of Kingman has done plenty of readying work on a similar surface and shouldn’t suffer for greenness.
Race 6: No5 – AGENT ZIGZAG
Trainer: Paul Webber – Jockey: Rob Hornby
AGENT ZIGZAG ran well on debut for Webber at this course before the lockdown, having joined the trainer from John Oxx in Ireland. A winner at the Curragh around this time last summer, he’s been in good form in his work on an all-weather surface at home.
Newmarket Best Bets
Race 2: No7 – VASARI
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Cieren Fallon
VASARI should be a horse worth wearing for although his ability to handle the cut in the ground has to be taken on trust. The Muhaarar gelding narrowly failed to open his account when second to Brad The Brief in a Wolverhampton novice in the autumn and has delighted his trainer in his build-up for this handicap bow.
Race 6: No2 – SUNRAY MAJOR (Nap)
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: Rab Havlin
King man’s half-brother SUNRAY MAJOR proved very green but still managed to deliver on his introduction on the Rowley course, pulling three and three-quarter lengths clear of Duel In The Sun when the penny dropped. He’s going to greatly benefit from this step up to a mile and can take the spoils on the way to much better things.
Ripon Best Bets
Race 2: No2 – CUBAN DANCER
Trainer: Mark Johnston – Jockey: PJ McDonald
Denied by a short-head on debut at Wolverhampton, CUBAN DANCER only needs to take the usual step forward to have a great chance of going one better. His sire Toronado produced a Royal Ascot winner earlier in the week and this colt can be another.
Race 6: No2 – STREAK LIGHTNING (Nap)
Trainer: Mark Johnston – Jockey: PJ McDonald
STREAK LIGHTNING looked very exciting when booting up on his Wolverhampton introduction and should take this novice in his stride on the way to much better things. The Night Of Thunder colt looked the real deal with the way he scorched clear and a similarly dominant showing is on the cards as he switches to turf.
