Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Wednesday’s racing taking place at Bath, Catterick, Yarmouth, and Naas.
BATH
Race 8: No2 – IFTON (Nap)
Trainer: Ruth Carr – Jockey: Cieren Fallon
IFTON signalled with a pleasing comeback effort on turf that he’s ready to post an overdue first victory for his trainer. The Iffraaj gelding has troubled the judge on numerous occasions since joining his trainer and if defective over today’s quarter-mile longer trip can prove a thorn in the side of top weight Quemonda.
Race 9: No7 – HIDDEN DEPTHS
Trainer: Neil Mulholland – Jockey: Liam Keniry
An assortment of headgear assisted HIDDEN DEPTHS when opening his account over the course and distance last week. The five-year-old is out again under a penalty and can strike while the iron’s hot.
CATTERICK
Race 2: No5 – INFANT HERCULES
Trainer: Kevin Ryan – Jockey: Kevin Stott
INFANT HERCULES has posted two solid runs to trouble the judge at both Thirsk and Musselburgh and looks in the right place to open his account, taking stock of the fact that he meets two horses with similar credentials in Myboymax and Master Of Brazil. The selection doesn’t have the best draw but that can be negated in this small field.
Race 7: No6 – NORTHERN CHARM
Trainer: David Brown – Jockey: Paul Mulrennan
Stars In The Night will be very short in this maiden but has had plenty of chances, leaving the once- raced NORTHERN CHARM as a viable alternative. The daughter of Equiano shaped well on that debut here in which she finished three lengths third to Newscaster.
Race 8: No1 – ABEL HANDY (Nap)
Trainer: David O’Meara – Jockey: D Nolan
ABEL HANDY is perfectly berthed in stall 3 to make a bold fist of leading from gate to line in this sprint. Unlucky not to have won already this season, he fought off one challenge after another over six furlongs here last week only to be run down in the final 50 yards by Red Pike. He is going to enjoy returning to the minimum trip.
YARMOUTH
Race 3: No6 – GRAND CANAL (Nap)
Trainer: Tom Clover – Jockey: Jack Mitchell
Having showed much-improved form when tackling his first handicap, GRAND CANAL can take out this second division of the mile and a quarter handicap for a trainer whose horses are right in the zone. The Australia gelding went down by just half a length to By Jove at Salisbury, having been beaten a combined margin of almost 60 lengths in the three races that afforded him a mark.
Race 8: No6 – INDIAN ROAD
Trainer: Mark Johnston – Jockey: William Buick
A switch to turf on his first run in a handicap can bring about improvement in INDIAN ROAD, who started at 14-1, 25-1, and 25-1 for the three all-weather races last winter that earned him a rating. He needs to take a step forward but in this different part of the race spectrum and for a trainer that excels with this type of horse that is perfectly possible.
NAAS
Race 1: No10 – GISELLES THUNDER
Trainer: Gavin Cromwell – Jockey: Wayne Lordan
GISELLES THUNDER found only Elysian her match on Navan debut after attracting market support. The daughter of Night Of Thunder will be more streetwise and can convert at the main expense of market rival Dense Star.
Race 3: No10 – ALLEZ ALLEZ ALLEZ
Trainer: Jessica Harrington – Jockey: Scott Foley
ALLE ALLE ALLEZ kept good company in her two outings as a juvenile and after returning with a pleasing frame finish at this course ran no sort of race in first-time cheekpieces at Navan. She now finds herself in a weak-looking maiden with the headgear retained and can open her account.
Race 4: No2 – MILLISLE (Nap)
Trainer: Jessica Harrington – Jockey: Scott Foley
The Harrington/Foley combo can take out this Group 3 Ballyogan Stakes with MILLISLE, the chestnut being preferred to Forever In Dreams in what could end up being a match between the pair. Forever In Dreams was touched off in a Group 2 last time and has to be greatly respected, but Millisle was probably attempting the impossible against the progressive Art Power in a Group 3 over today’s course and distance, having finished a creditable fifth to Golden Horde in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.
