Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Monday’s racing coming to you from Windsor, Thirsk and Yarmouth..
WINDSOR Best Bets
Race 5 No14 RHYME SCHEME
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Silvestre de Sousa
RHYME SCHEME started 50-1 on her Chelmsford comeback in a Class 4 and looked out of her depth on that handicap debut. However, she’s back in a novice and appears to have gone forward for that needed outing. She has ability and can open her account.
Race 7 No3 CHICHESTER (Nap)
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Louis Steward
CHICHESTER just missed out when beaten a neck by Yes My Boy on his reappearance at Lingfield. The Dansili colt switches to turf for this third career start and should appreciate the easing in the ground caused by weekend thunderstorms. He looked the part stretching a couple of lengths clear of his workmate on Long Hill on Saturday.
Race 8 No8 SEVERANCE
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Rob Hornby
Hornby has clicked with a couple of decent handicappers from this stable and is the right man to get the headstrong SEVERANCE home in this warm handicap. The combination gelled at Newmarket at the Guineas meeting when finding only Holy Kingdom too strong. The Nathaniel gelding consented to settle that day and has looked happy and alert in his subsequent work at West Ilsley.
THIRSK Best Bets
Race 1 No5 SOLDIERPOY
Trainer: Tom Clover – Jockey: Ben Curtis
Clover is firing out the winners in these early weeks of the season and can take this with SOLDIERPOY. The Sepoy gelding failed by just threequarters of a length to score on debut at Windsor and sets the standard for the others to aim at.
Race 6 No5 ROUND THE ISLAND (Each Way)
Successes for ROUND THE ISLAND are few and far between, largely due to his huge preference for Pontefract, where four of his six career wins have happened. At this course he requires more to go right, but with rain about the going could come in his favour, and it’s on the cards he’ll go off at a big double-figure price.
Race 8 No2 PROUD ARCHI
Trainer: Michael Dods – Jockey: Conor Beasley
Having gone close following a protracted break on his return at this course, PROUD ARCHI should be spot on and has a great chance to go one better. He’s below his last winning mark, will be straighter for that effort and has a plum draw against the favoured inside rail.
YARMOUTH
Race 2 No1 ELECTED
Trainer: William Haggas – Jockey: Tom Marquand
Any losses sustained on ELECTED on his debut at Lingfield can be recouped with interest. The Oasis Dream colt looked unlucky to lose out to Mutazawwed in that tactical contest, has worked nicely since that run and can prove just as effective now switched to grass.
Race 7 No6 REINE DE VITESSE (Nap)
Trainer: Jane Chapple-Hyam – Jockey: Daniel Muscutt
REINE DE VITESSE will be more the finished article after a narrow defeat here earlier in the month. The strong travelling filly has potential for improvement on this seventh career start, and rates the best bet on the card.
