Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Friday’s racing coming your way from Goodwood (Day 3), Pontefract, Lingfield, and Wolverhampton.
GOODWOOD
Race: 2 Saint Claire Oak Tree Stakes (Group 3)
No5 – ONE MASTER (Nap)
Trainer: William Haggas – Jockey: Tom Marquand
A big field assembles for a race that links Goodwood and Santa Anita, the Oak Tree Stakes, but ONE MASTER is a mare of Group 1 ability and can deliver on what is a welcome drop in class for the six-year-old. Her sporting American owners have campaigned her globally, with last October’s Prix de la Foret triumph at Longchamp on Arc day a career highlight. That happened on very soft ground, and the only thing that can stop One Master winning today is the drying underfoot conditions. She would prefer a ploughed field underneath her but has the class to get away with it and tee herself up for another trip to the Breeders’ Cup in Kentucky.
Race 4: No15 – PROMPTING
Trainer: David O’Meara – Jockey: Harry Bentley
A good draw close to the rail is worth its weight in gold in a race like the Golden Mile and PROMPTING will need no nudges to go forward from stall 2. The Bated Breath gelding has won three of his five starts this year whilst finishing in the money in the other two. He’s started favourite for each of his last five outings and looks to be improving faster than the assessor can up with him. He appeals as the ideal type for this valuable prize, getting weight from each of his 14 rivals.
Race 5: King George Qatar Stakes (Group 2)
No1 – BATTAASH
Trainer: Charlie Hills – Jockey: Jim Crowley
BATTAASH is the king of the five furlongs sprint track here and can gain an unprecedented fourth success in this Group 2 prize. He toyed with his rivals in 2019 and showed by storming home from stablemate Equilateral to notch a first King’s Stand Stakes triumph at Royal Ascot in June that he hasn’t lost any of his panache. The absence of new kid on the block Art Power makes this a penalty kick for the Sheikh Hamdan-owned gelding, who should be followed home by Liberty Beach.
Race 6: L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate Glorious Stakes (Group 3)
No2 – COMMUNIQUE
Trainer: Mark Johnston – Jockey: Joe Fanning
The cornflower attire might be harder to spot owing to the restrictions of crowd numbers but Gaynor Rupert’s long-standing sponsorship of this race is to be applauded. A tightly knit affair should see COMMUNIQUE deliver the first knock out blow of the season for the Johnston stable. The five-year-old richly deserves to get his head in front after seconds in the Princess Of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket and the Sky Bet Stakes at York. Although his best form is at Headquarters, he won here as a three-year-old and has the form edge on his six rivals.
PONTEFRACT
Race 1: No4 – POLASTRI (Nap)
Trainer: Richard Fahey – Jockey: Paddy Mathers
Cheveley Park Stud has good prospects of taking out the first two races on the card. POLASTRI was hot on the heels of Brazen Belle on her debut at Catterick after taking a market drift. She’s going to be a different proposition for this shorter race and can give a form boost to stablemate Humid in Race 2.
Race 2: No9 – HUMID
Trainer: Richard Fahey – Jockey: Paddy Mathers
Well-drawn to attack in this six furlongs maiden round a bend, HUMID can raise her game after a no more than a satisfactory first effort at Catterick. The great daughter of Lethal Force was easy in the market and may have needed the run behind Brazen Belle. This doesn’t look the hottest of races, giving her a bright chance to open her account.
Race 6: No4 – SINGLE
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: George Bass
SINGLE proved a costly failure at Beverley last time, failing to go on from the good efforts she’d produced in three previous outings since the resumption of racing. Wearing first-time cheekpieces, she fell away tamely up the final hill but it could be worth backing her to overturn the placings with second home Frankenstella. The selection has capable apprentice George Bass in the irons for the first time, and his 7lb claim can prove a useful asset.
LINGFIELD
Race 1: No5 – BARTAT (Nap)
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Nicola Currie
BARTAT hasn’t won for almost a year, but after showing plenty of speed in her final work earlier in the week can make a good fist of going all the way in this sprint handicap. She’s in the perfect slot in gate 2 to get out and prove a tough rival to claw back in the hands of the excellent Currie.
Race 2: No1 – PARTY SPIRIT
Trainer: Mark Johnston – Jockey: Connor Beasley
PARTY SPIRIT has the cards in her hands after two pleasing efforts to trouble the judge. She finished second on debut at Ayr and third at Beverley and after training well on the all-weather at home should be just as adept on Polytrack. She has a good draw from which to attack.
WOLVERHAMPTON
Race 4: No4 – POPE GREGORY (Each Way)
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Theo Ladd
POPE GREGORY has been a slow burner but has looked all the better for his first look at a racecourse. He was beaten a fair way in that Leicester contest but like a lot of horses from this stable can take a step forward for the benefit derived from the experience and get into the money.
Race 8: No5 – CRYSTAL PEGASUS (Nap)
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Cieren Fallon
This trainer has seen a couple of short ones rolled over in recent days but CRYSTAL PEGASUS can prove bombproof in this long-distance novice stakes. Twice in his career, he’s been beaten when odds-on but as a son of Australia, he will appreciate moving up to a mile and a half and can outstay his foes.
