Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Friday’s racing taking place at Newmarket, Wetherby, and Uttoxeter.
NEWMARKET
Race 3: No7 – MISHAL STAR (Nap)
Trainer: Tom Ward – Jockey: Harry Bentley
A race that remembers the exceptional Bosra Sham could be within the compass of hat-trick seeker MISHAL STAR, who looked better the further she travelled when taking out a nursery at Nottingham. Previously successful at Kempton, the daughter of popular stallion Mehmas looks one of those fast improvers that could take this move into Listed company in her stride.
Race 5: No7 – DUKE OF CONDICOTE
Trainer: Alan King – Jockey: Tom Marquand
This stable excels with its middle-distance handicappers and DUKE OF CONDICOTE, named after the trainer’s mentor David Nicholson, can return to the winning form displayed when he last came back off a break in June. It’s three months since his last run at Haydock and he can make the best of his freshness with a big run in this competitive heat.
WETHERBY
Race 3: No2 – HOLD THE NOTE (Nap)
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Jonathan Burke
Shan Blue was impressive on his seasonal return a couple of weeks ago but might find HOLD THE NOTE too hot to handle in this graduation chase. The latter is blessed with abundant talent and usually reserves his best for the racecourse rather than at home. By taking this out en route to a possible crack at the Hennessy he can give a boost to the stable’s Mister Whitaker, who runs in the feature here tomorrow.
Race 5: No4 – TWO FOR GOLD
Trainer: Kim Bailey – Jockey: David Bass
While respect is afforded to top weight Happy Diva, the progressive TWO FOR GOLD makes slightly more appeal following a convincing first season over fences in which he included a defeat of Hold The Note at Warwick. That clinched him a hat-trick of successes, and on final start, at Ascot, he again ran well to chase home Copperhead in another Grade 2. Good vibes accompany the gelding who will hopefully have received a boost from Hold The Note earlier in the day.
Race 8: No1 – THIRD TIME LUCKI
Trainer: Dan Skelton – Jockey: Harry Skelton
Champion bumper fourth THIRD TIME LUCKI fits the bill in the nightcap, looking to supplement his comeback triumph and debut over jumps at Uttoxeter. That was a penalty kick for the five-year-old who faces stronger competition, but with the fitness advantage, it’s produced he should be able to defy his penalty.
UTTOXETER
Race 1: No3 – FULGURIX
Trainer: Colin Tizzard – Jockey: Daryl Jacob
Former French-based FULGURIX is the subject of good reports for this debut under Rules and can live up to the promise displayed when second on his only previous start at Pau. He will need to be as good as the smoke signals from Dorset claim he is in order to beat the race-fit Blackfinch but has the potential to develop into one of the better novices from this talent-laden stable.
Race 3: No13 – YAUTHYM
Trainer: Fergal O’Brien – Jockey: Paddy Brennan
From an outfit that has made a flying start to the season, YAUTHYM is ready after a more than eight-month absence to score on her third run for them. She troubled the judge in both outings over jumps at Doncaster, and especially when third in a Listed hurdle there when last seen in late January.
Race 4: No9 – EURKASH (Each Way)
Trainer: Paul Webber – Jockey: Tom Buckley
EURKASH made a satisfactory start to his career in handicaps when not far out of the money at Doncaster before lockdown. This lightly-raced individual returns off a good mark and could surprise at a generous double-figure price.
Race 6: No6 – KING ROWLAND (Nap)
Trainer: Harry Fry – Jockey: Jonjo O’Neill Jr
Fry has sent out early winners from his new HQ and in KING ROWLAND has a novice with stacks of potential. A winner of both his bumper starts as well as a maiden hurdle at Exeter, his runs in defeat to Son Of Camas at Newbury, and Harry Senior on trials day at Cheltenham stand up to anything achieved by his rivals, while he’s taken well to fences at home.
