Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Wednesday’s racing taking place at Happy Valley, Hamilton Park, Haydock Park and Windsor.
Happy Valley Best Bets
Race 1: No1 – HARRIER JET
Trainer: Paul O’Sullivan – Jockey: Zac Purton
In the battle for the jockeys’ title, Joao Moreira looks to have a stronger book of rides than rival Zac Purton, but it’s the Australian that can put one on the board in the opener with HARRIER JET. The combination scored decisively over course and distance a fortnight ago, and though up in the weights the success has boosted the selection’s confidence levels. TRAVEL DAKTUT needs to break a 41-race losing sequence and again seems destined for an earn of some sort. REGENCY POET is also likely to get involved under in-form Kara is Teetan.
Prediction: 1-9-8
Race 2: No10 – THIS IS CHARISMA
Trainer: Francis Lui – Jockey: Joao Moreira
The blinkered THIS IS CHARISMA has been edging closer race by race this year and can break his duck under Moreira. With better luck, he could have delivered already, and this looks a good opportunity with everything else in the race out of form. BULLISH BROTHER did win two runs back but was no match for Harrier Jet last time. Harrier Jet would give his prospects a boost with a good run in the first. The joker in the pack is AUTHENTIC CHAMP, who on the evidence of just one start here has to go in.
Prediction: 10-9-6
Race 3: No6 – LUCKY QUALITY
Trainer: Caspar Fownes – Jockey: Joao Moreira
If putting his best foot forward LUCKY QUALITY will be hard to beat. By far his best form has been shown at the Valley, while on just a seventh start in Hong Kong he’s got room for maneuver in terms of improvement. The much in form FOCUS knows how to win and seems poised for a return to winning ways soon, following a couple of near-misses since that April victory. From a good draw, KING DRAGON can also go well on debut at this course. He’s going to get a smooth cut at the leaders, with his cause assisted by Purton.
Prediction: 6-3-8
Race 4: No10 – INCANTO PREPARED
Trainer: John Size – Jockey: Antoine Hamelin
Should he overcome an awkward gate INCANTO PREPARED can notch a first success here. Most of his racing has happened at Sha Tin, but a close third to Lightning Steed over this track and trip last time shows he’s just as happy at the city course. DAILY BEAUTY was beaten a whisker over 1200m last time and now steps up to 1650m which looks a good move by trainer Caspar Fownes. However, that was a first sign of ability for quite a while and the gelding needs to prove it wasn’t a flash in the pan. First-time blinkers could energise top weight TOTAL POWER, for whom David Hall has booked Zac Purton.
Prediction: 10-11-1
Race 5: No8 – WILD WEST WING
Trainer: John Size – Jockey: Joao Moreira
A chance is taken on WILD WEST WING who has a favourable draw and room for significant improvement for top connections. He has something to find with WE THE SOUTH from his latest start here but is capable of raising his game under Moreira whose ridden him in each of his four races in Hong Kong, and must know what he has under him. NEXT MODEL is a pea out of the same pod as the selection in that he’s racing for just the fifth time here in the old colony. He’s also shown ability and can menace.
Prediction: 8-1-4
Race 6: No9 – SKY DARCI (Nap)
Trainer: Caspar Fownes – Jockey: Joao Moreira
SKY DARCI takes a step up the class ladder but should prove more than up to the task. On only his fourth career start he won just as he liked over course and distance last time. He has a good gate and can remain unbeaten at this venue. HIGHLAND FORTUNE also won last time out and rates the main danger for the Francis Lui/Purton combo. He’s at the same class level and is sure to go well, while at longer odds CALIFORNIA TURBO can prove the surprise packet, and regain some of the good form he’s shown here in the past.
Prediction: 9-3-10
Race 7: No7 – MAGNIFICENT
Trainer: L Ho – Jockey: Dylan Mo
MAGNIFICENT has caught a perfect slot in the gate for a horse that likes to roll along. He should have gained a confidence boost after his success over course and distance last month and is right in the zone to follow-up. If blessed with a better draw HELENE CHARISMA would have been the pick, but in spite of his very good run behind Reliable Team over a longer trip last time I think he may prove vulnerable. SUNSHINE WARRIOR has won three of his last six and is of interest returning from a short head defeat three weeks ago.
Prediction: 7-3-12
Race 8: No2 – FARSHAD
Trainer: Me Tsui – Jockey: H N Wong
All FARSHAD has to do to give himself a clear shot at this is break and stay hardly. Should the grey achieve that he will be hard to stop at the business end. His claims will increase should my selection Magnificent run well in the previous race. SHAMPORT bids to make this a fourth win of the campaign with Moreira doing the steering. He chased home the very useful California Rad last time and is clearly in good heart on that evidence. Another drawn to attack is ALPHA HEDGE, who narrowly failed to resist Green Luck last time.
Prediction: 2-7-3
Race 9: No10 – WINNING METHOD
Trainer: Danny Shum – Jockey: Joao Moreira
In receipt of 16lbs from Shining Ace, it’s hard not to think WINNING METHOD won’t be hard to beat in the nightcap. For such a bang-in-form operator he doesn’t look badly treated and can again outpoint the top weight, who vainly chased his shadow here a month back. ENCORE BOY is better on dirt than turf but nevertheless put in a good effort on this surface when third to Amazing Star in March, and would be dangerous to leave out.
Prediction: 10-10-4
Hamilton Park Best Bets
Race 1: No4 – AISH
Trainer: Kevin Ryan – Jockey: Kevin Stott
The Ryan yard can dominate early proceedings on this card, with Twilight Son filly AISH paying a compliment to Albany Stakes winner Dandalla, who made a hack of her at Newcastle. Most of this stable’s juveniles improve for a run and the same can be seen from Aish, who on what we saw at Royal Ascot faced mission impossible on that introduction.
Race 2: No8 – TINOSHIO
Trainer: Kevin Ryan – Jockey: Kevin Stott
The strong finish of TINOSHIO at Pontefract was eye taking and indicates the Buratino colt will be more worldly-wise for this second career outing. He’s opposed by some interesting first-timers, but the fact that he’s got racecourse experience in the bag can prove worth its weight in gold.
Race 5: No3 – KRAKEN POWER
Trainer: Iain Jardine – Jockey: Jamie Gormley
There’s a bundle of speed in the chart of KRAKEN POWER, for whom Pontefract’s stiff uphill finish proved just too much on debut. He and the winner Candescence came clear of the remainder and granted the benefit of that educational run on a similarly demanding track the colt can go one better.
Haydock Park Best Bets
Race 1: No3 – HIGHEST GROUND
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Ryan Moore
One time Derby hopeful Waldkonig is on a recovery mission following his defeat at Newmarket, and could again be vulnerable to the promising HIGHEST GROUND. By Frankel out of a Sunday Silence mare, Highest Ground impressively took out his maiden on debut at Leicester last September and on that evidence is a name to conjure with this year. He’s looked good in his work on Long Hill and can surprise the favourite.
Race 6: No8 – RICH BELIEF (Each Way)
Trainer: James Bethell – Jockey: PJ McDonald
RICH BELIEF isn’t an obvious pick in this three-year-old handicap but the gelding could surprise a few people, having been brought to the boil by a readying run behind Palace Pier at Newcastle. Although finishing last in a field of seven to the subsequent St James’s Palace Stakes winner, Rich Belief will have benefitted from it in terms of getting closer to full fitness. He was a consistent performer at two, and can step up.
Race 7: No4 – SOVEREIGN GRANT
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Ryan Moore
SOVEREIGN GRANT didn’t show the enthusiasm you might expect of a horse backed from 3-1 into 4-6 on its reappearance at Chelmsford, making no impression on winner Godhead in the straight. It was the second time he’d been turned over at odds-on but I’m giving him another chance to shake off that ‘talking horse’ label, afforded him owing to his very impressive homework beforehand. The son of Kingman wouldn’t have blown a candle out afterwards, and needs to turn up here with a different attitude.
Race 8: No1 – SUMMER HOUSE
Trainer: Saeed Bin Suroor – Jockey: Josephine Gordon
SUMMER HOUSE carries a 7lb penalty for her taking debut triumph at Lingfield but it shouldn’t prevent her remaining unbeaten. Having looked a lost cause at the distance, she flew in the final 100 yards to get up on the line to deny Duck And Vanish. The daughter of Lope De Vega has delighted Bin Suroor in her subsequent work and should hold too many guns for Choral Work, with the pair set to dominate.
Windsor Best Bets
Race 1: No5 – LOTHIAN
Trainer: Mike Attwater – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
LOTHIAN did nothing wrong when second on debut at Lingfield, and with the champion jockey in his saddle has much going for him as he switches to turf. The betting suggested not much was expected of him, but his effort indicates he has the ability to take out a race of this nature, as many of the newcomers hails from small yards and are not obvious threats to him.
Race 2: No7 – VITARE
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
A drop back on the distance ladder can work the oracle for VITARE who on form alone holds the cards in this maiden. The selection started 100-1 when third on comeback at Yarmouth but was 2-1 favourite at Leicester last time, only to be gunned down by stablemate Wine Flight. Six furlongs looks a more suitable trip on the evidence of that latest effort.
Race 7: No5 – DECORA
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: George Bass
Having troubled the judge on successive handicap outings at Wolverhampton and Lingfield, DECORA can make the switch to turf a winning one. The daughter of dual Breeders’ Cup Turf scorer Conduit ran into the heavily supported Pawpaw and wasn’t drawn as well as that rival at Lingfield, being beaten less than the yardage that cost her. Furthermore, her case will be assisted by her apprentice’s 5lb claim.
