Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Friday’s racing coming your way from Dundalk, Lingfield Park, Wolverhampton and Doncaster.
DUNDALK
Race 2 No:5 RAPHAEL
Trainer: Adrian McGuinness – Jockey: Gavin Ryan
RAPHAEL can make this a third success from his last four outings and show that he’s now a much better horse on Polytrack than was the case last year. The Roderick O’Connor gelding is in great heart for this numerically well-contested claimer, and also enjoys the luxury of the rail.
Race 4 No5 RED CONTENDER (Nap)
Trainer: Luke Comer – Jockey: Jamie Heffernan
While Ferrybank sets the standard for the others to aspire to, RED CONTENDER is a horse getting better with racing and after losing out in a sharp tussle with Catherine Chroi last time is ready to go one better. That was his first run in a handicap and he now has an eye taking jockey doing the steering.
Race 6 No10 FRIDTJ OF NANSEN (Each Way)
Trainer: Kieran Cotter – Jockey: Declan McDonagh
It’s hard to put your pen through the names of many of these but FRIDTJOF OF NANSEN has a knack of getting into the shake-up and is poised for another good earning run. The Kyllachy gelding has thrived at this course through the winter and deserves the rub of the green required to put his head in front.
Race 7 No:2 FOREIGN LEGION
Trainer: John Larkin – Jockey: Ross Coakley
Since being switched to the Polytrack FOREIGN LEGION’S form reads 371214, showing a good level of consistency. His fourth to Irish Acclaim last time has been devalued, but he’s well drawn for an attacking performance with hat-trick seeker Sunset Nova rating a big danger.
LINGFIELD PARK
Race 6 No:4 CRIMEWAVE (Nap)
Trainer: Tom Clover – Jockey: Laura Pearson
Pearson has taken the plaudits several times here this month and can advertise her skills by booting home CRIMEWAVE. Her 5lb penalty should prove a big assist to the consistent selection who looked all over a winner before running out of puff here earlier in the month. He’s taken home a cheque on each of three races this season and deserves to get his head in front.
Race 7 No:2 CLAY
Trainer: Richard Hannon – Jockey: Sean Levey
Tamborrada looked useful when scoring on debut over course and distance in the New Year but could be anchored by his penalty against Sixties Icon colt CLAY. The selection made Dyke Of Verona pull out all the stops at this course last week, a run that has sharpened him up.
WOLVERHAMPTON
Race 3 No:4 KOZIER
Trainer: Alan King – Jockey: Hollie Doyle
The King stable has solid claims to land the spoils with KOZIER just preferred to Nebuchadnezzar in this stayers’ handicap. Both have enjoyed one earning run since the turn of the year, but Kozier can make the best of a first run on Tapeta after chasing home Zarafshan in a competitive race at Kempton.
Race 4: No:4 KESTENNA (Nap)
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: Rab Havlin
Few horses have shown as much greenness as KESTENNA, who didn’t have a clue yet ran on into second on debut behind the heavily-backed Skulk at Lingfield. The attractive daughter of Pride Of Dubai has to be of serious interest if learning from that, and is preferred to Godolphin’s other contender Colour Of Light.
DONCASTER
Race 1 No:3 BRIANSTORM
Trainer: Venetia Williams – Jockey: Charlie Deutsch
The unexposed BRIANSTORM has plenty going for him having run a cracker on return from well over a year off at Exeter. The nine-year-old jumped well and enjoyed the easy conditions in an exercise that should have put the cutting edge on him for this novices’ handicap chase.
Race 4 No:1 TALKING ABOUT YOU
Trainer: Sheena West – Jockey: Harry Bannister
New of the success stories of the season, bargain basement purchase TALKING ABOUT YOU needs a career best to take out this juvenile Listed hurdle but has the guts and determination to achieve it. The daughter of Sixties Icon has been a convincing winner of her last three starts following wind surgery and can successfully concede 5lb to Progressive,and impressive scorer on her jumps debut here.
Race 5 No:4 FLINTEUR SACRE (Nap)
Trainer: Nicky Henderson – Jockey: Nico de Boinville
Sprinter Sacre’s close relative FLINTEUR SACRE has a hard act to follow and was clearly not himself when beaten at 2-5 when reappearing at Newbury. He’s very highly regarded at Seven Barrows and can reveal his trues colours to land the spoils on the way to much better things.
