Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing coming your way from Haydock Park, Yarmouth and Chelmsford City, as well as the Epsom Investec Derby and Investec Oaks, including video analysis!
EPSOM INVESTEC DERBY AND OAKS ANALYSIS
Race 6 – INVESTEC DERBY (Group 1)
IT takes a special horse to win both the 2,000 Guineas and Derby but the workings of the betting market over the past few days indicates that KAMEKO, who showed his mettle with a narrow but deserved triumph in the Newmarket Classic, is poised to become the people’s favourite to add racing’s blue riband to his tally.
The Andrew Balding-trained colt showed the important ability to come through horses as he accelerated from the Bushes, although his ability to stay the mile and a half today is not set in stone.
He’s given connections every indication that he will get the longer trip on this demanding and unique track and has gone through his home education on the same gallops that the trainer’s father Ian Balding used to prepare the mighty Mill Reef.
The Ed Walker-trained ENGLISH KING demonstrated that he handles an undulating track with his eye taking triumph in the Lingfield Derby Trial. On just his third career start the son of Camelot produced a telling turn of foot to stretch clear and connections have snapped up Frankie Dettori for the mount.
That defeat of Berkshire Rocco wasn’t diminished by the latter’s good run in defeat at Royal Ascot, and English King is a certain stayer.
Aidan O’Brien fields six in the 16-runner race with his main protagonists looking to be Hampton Court Stakes winner RUSSIAN EMPEROR and MOGUL. At Ascot, Russian Emperor arrived late on the scene to grab First Receiver, while Mogul looked to be carrying surplus condition when beaten four and three-quarter lengths by PYLEDRIVER in the King Edward VII Stakes. On that evidence Mogul should have little chance of turning the tables on the William Muir-trained Pyledriver, but Ryan Moore has elected to stay with him.
Pyledriver is himself a proper candidate, although of those at a big double-figure price HIGHLAND CHIEF is the one I like. The Fitri Hay-owned colt was having just a fourth career start when making up a colossal amount of ground in the final quarter-mile of the King George V Handicap to show he has every chance of getting the mile and a half today. He also looked green in the closing stages, and would have won by a wider margin had he kept straight. Furthermore, he excelled in his final piece of strong work on the historic Derby gallop at Whatcombe, while his trainer Paul Cole knows what it takes to prepare a Derby winner.
Prediction
1st HIGHLAND CHIEF
2nd Kameko
3rd English King
4th Mogul
5th Russian Emperor
6th Pyledriver
Race 4 – INVESTEC OAKS (Group 1)
One of the smallest fields ever assembled for the fillies’ Classic brings with it domination of the market, and its fair to say that so impressive was LOVE in the Qipco 1,000 Guineas that she’s frightened plenty away. Aidan O’Brien’s charge is taking a big step up the distance ladder but is bred to get every yard of the trip, while she looked better the further she travelled on the Rowley Course, scoring going away by four and a quarter lengths from Cloak Of Spirits.
The one that could spoil the party for the Aidan O’Brien-trained filly is the unexposed FRANKLY DARLING. The daughter of Frankel showed that she’d made great strides when landing the Ribblesdale with plenty to spare. John Gosden’s charge dominated ENNISTYMON at the business end and has to be afforded abundant respect with Frankie Dettori in the hot seat. She’s also delighted her trainer since Ascot, and should not be underestimated.
Prediction
1st FRANKLY DARLING
2nd Love
3rd Ennistymon
4th Passion
Epsom Undercard
Race 3: No4 – CARADOC
Trainer: Ed Walker – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
This is a much harder race than the one CARADOC bypassed owing to unsuitably quick ground at Windsor earlier in the week, but this progressive Camelot gelding can give his trainer a positive omen for English King in the Derby. By winning three of his final six starts in 2019 the selection showed he’s an upwardly mobile performer and even though off the course since November he’s considered to be straight enough to produce a good account.
Race 7: No12 – MUNTADAB
Trainer: Roger Fell – Jockey: Ben Curtis
This course should play to the strengths of the well-drawn MUNTADAB, who after being beaten inches at Musselburgh on Wednesday is ready to serve it up from the front. He’s unlucky not to have prevailed since the lockdown as he’d previously run into the well grated Presidential at Doncaster. A success here would be therefore thoroughly deserved.
HAYDOCK PARK
Race 3: No9 – RICH APPROACH (Each Way)
Trainer: James Bethell – Jockey: PJ McDonald
RICH APPROACH proved a consistent operator in an all-weather campaign through the winter, finishing in the money at Newcastle (three times) and Kempton. With his hold up style, he requires luck in running but the easy conditions should suit, and help him post a first success on grass at a working man’s price.
Race 5: No9 – INCOGNITO (Each Way)
Trainer: Ed Walker – Jockey: Kevin Stott
On her debut for Walker, INCOGNITO can put her best foot forward and take a slice of the cake in this competitive affair. She showed on more than one occasion last season that she’s got the ability to make her mark on grass, particularly when finishing second in a warm Newmarket maiden in July. The change of scenery that has taken her to Lambourn since her last run should also count in her favour.
Race 8: No3 – DECLARING LOVE
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: Kevin Stott
Being out of a Dalakhani mare DECLARING LOVE is bred to enjoy the cut in the ground that should prevail. She ran into a couple of useful rivals when third on debut at Newmarket last May before enduring training issues. She’s a talented unit and can start to make up for lost time.
Race 9: No4 – ARCH MOON
Trainer: Michael Dods – Jockey: Callum Rodriguez
Dods has his Darlington team in good order, which counts in favour of ARCH MOON following-up his pleasing win over a shorter trip here last month. The Sea The Moon gelding is a progressive sort and will enjoy any cut in the ground. He should send punters home happy by staving off First Impression.
YARMOUTH
Race 5: No3 – TSAR
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: Nicky Mackay
Kingman colt TSAR was sent off 5-4 on his Newbury introduction on the face of some pleasing homework, but he had no answer to the impressive Lord Campari. There’s nothing of that calibre in opposition here, and he should open his account on the way to better things.
Race 6: No5 – AZETS
Trainer: Jane Chapple-Hyam/Jockey: Charlie Bennett
AZETS can convert his all-weather form to grass in this mile handicap. His recent Chelmsford win shows he’s now fully fit, and his trainer’s horses have been going well without enjoying the rub of the green. He can follow-up at the main expense of Harlow.
CHELMSFORD CITY
Race 2: No5 – RECOVERY RUN
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: David Probert
RECOVERY RUN was too green to do himself justice but still ran a cracker when chasing home King Zain at Kempton. He’s up against a couple of dangerous-looking foes in Al Watan and Final Voyage but should be up to the task in hand.
Race 7: No4 – ASCRAEUS
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: David Probert
Poet’s Voice filly ASCRAEUS made a pleasing start to her three-year-old career when scoring at Wolverhampton. She grittily battled her way to victory that day and though not obviously well treated is an improving sort that should be followed in handicaps.
