Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Friday’s racing coming your way from Newmarket, Ripon, Beverley, and Newton Abbot.
NEWMARKET
Race 1: No1 – ET TU BRUTE
Trainer: Eve Johnson Houghton – Jockey: Charles Bishop
After a calamitous start to his career when his saddle slipped, ET TU BRUTE showed his true mettle to gamely open his account at Chepstow. Under a 7lb penalty the colt can follow up at the main expense of the only other winner in the field, Sadiqaa.
Race 5: No3 – COGNAC
Trainer: Mark Johnston – Jockey: William Buick
COGNAC readily notched a first success on the all-weather at Kempton to add to his Musselburgh triumph last year. The Invincible Spirit colt has an upwardly mobile appeal and can successfully give 6lb to Nugget in this competitive all-aged handicap.
Race 8: No2 – SPECTRUM OF LIGHT (Nap)
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: William Buick
First-time cheekpieces may eek out a tad more progression from SPECTRUM OF LIGHT in this three-year-old only handicap. The Golden Horn gelding has posted a win a second and a third in his three outings at Headquarters, going down by just a head to Wise Glory last time. He’s a strong stayer and proven over today’s trip.
RIPON
Race 2: No1 – BRING THE MONEY (Nap)
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Ben Curtis
BRING THE MONEY shaped promisingly on his first run on grass here, running better than his finishing position indicates behind Silent Agenda. Easy to back on that occasion, the gelding has delighted his trainer in subsequent work at home and can successfully give weight to his rivals in what looks a very good opportunity.
Race 3: No1 – MASHMOOM
Trainer: Saeed Bin Suroor – Jockey: Dane O’Neill
MASHMOOM greatly impressed when opening her account at Goodwood, overturning Kim Wexler by a wide margin. It was a big step up on her debut effort on Polytrack at Lingfield and makes the daughter of Muhaarar a tough nut for the others to crack in this fillies’ novice stakes.
Race 4: No6 – MUSCIKA
Trainer: David O’Meara – Jockey: D Nolan
MUSCIKA a has shown a liking for this undulating course, finishing fourth in the Great St Wilfrid Handicap last summer. The Kyllachy gelding was narrowly denied at York earlier in the month, signalling that he is now primed to open his account.
Race 5: No3 – VITARE
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Ben Curtis
VITARE probably did too much too soon when weakening at the business end of a seven-furlong maiden at Catterick. Having been nailed by an 80-1 roughie on his previous start at Windsor, he now gets a first-rate opportunity to show his true worth pulled back to a sprint distance.
BEVERLEY
Race 1: No11 – SILENT QUEEN (Nap)
Trainer: Luke Mcjannet – Jockey: Kieren O’Neill
SILENT QUEEN faces a couple of previous winners in this novice auction stakes but following her own excellent debut effort at Ripon when narrowly beaten by Queen Of Rio she’s in a good place to trump them. Completely unfancied that day, she will come on for the run and can capitalise on the weight concessions that Disco Beats and Crown Princess have to give her.
Race 9: No7 – SNOOKERED
Trainer: Brian Ellison – Jockey: Ben Robinson
Dual-purpose horse SNOOKERED hasn’t won on the Flat for almost two years, but as a jumper he landed four handicap hurdles in succession in a bountiful autumn and early winter last year, before landing some good bets in a jumper/bumper at Newcastle in February. This strong traveller served notice that he’s on the cusp of a return to winning ways when chasing home Heart Of Soul at Hamilton earlier in the month, and can take full advantage of the 12lb he receives from top weight and likely favourite Stonific.
NEWTON ABBOT
Race 1: No4 – TEMPLEPARK
Trainer: Fergal O’Brien – Jockey: Max Kendrick
Ridden by Kendrick in each of 16 starts since joining the O’Brien stable, TEMPLEPARK will be fitter for his pleasing comeback run when chasing home Irish Prophecy at Newton Abbot. He normally takes a run to put the edge on him and is in a good place to take out this novices’ hurdle.
Race 6: No5 – NEVERBEEN TO PARIS
Trainer: Harry Whittington – Jockey: Gavin Sheehan
NEVERBEEN TO PARIS was considered a gallop short when reappearing in a handicap hurdle at Bangor, but having stayed on to finish third behind Dear Sire should now be cherry ripe to put in another earning run and hopefully win this novices’ chase, for which he has schooled well at home.
Race 9: No1 – BEHOLDEN (Nap)
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Conor O’Farrell
BEHOLDEN landed a gamble on his racecourse debut in a similar contest and should demonstrate that he’s a top addition to the bumper ranks by following up under a penalty. A cast-off from the Juddmonte empire, he toyed with his rivals on that occasion, surviving a scare when he jumped a path and stumbled 100 yards from the winning line to come home unchallenged.
