Neil Morrice brings you all of his best bets and tips for Sunday’s racing coming your way from CATTERICK BRIDGE, FFOS LAS, LINGFIELD PARK, SOUTHWELL and WINDSOR.
CATTERICK BRIDGE
Race 3 No8 WHITWELL
Trainer: Mick Easterby – Jockey: Joanna Mason
Named after the location of Easterby’s local point-to-point, WHITWELL has plenty of the boxes ticked in this, having shaped with promise when chasing home a handicap snip on seasonal return at Redcar. The Cable Bay gelding looks to have been found a good opportunity to go one better.
Race 6 No5 PERFECT BALANCE (Nap)
Trainer: Saeed Bin Suroor – Jockey: E Walsh
Bin Suroor wouldn’t be an everyday visitor to this course, which gives credence to the claims of PERFECT BALANCE. The Invincible Spirit colt found only the useful Malhoob his superior when returning at Thirsk, and should be more effective dropping back in trip on this sharper track.
FFOS LAS
Race 5 No8 SPECTATOR
Trainer: Tim Vaughan – Jockey: Alan Johns
This course attracts competitive fields on a regular basis and here we have a case in point, with locally-trained SPECTATOR holding very strong claims to take home a cheque. The fact that he comes back from a near 200-day absence since scoring at Chepstow shouldn’t put you off because on that occasion he returned from a 15-month break to win with a bit in hand.
Race 7 No8 ARTHUR’S REUBEN (Nap)
Trainer: Sean Curran – Jockey: James Davies
ARTHUR’S REUBEN has got his act together with a win and two seconds from his last three outings in handicap chases. He operates well at Chepstow and should do likewise at this similar course with its long home straight.
LINGFIELD PARK
Race 1 No5 AZETS
Trainer: Jane Chapple-Hyam – Jockey: Jay Mackay
Dubawi gelding AZETS has been in the money on each of his last eight outings and looks destined for another earning run of some kind. He’s a dual course winner whose chance will elevate if his pilot manages to get him settled in behind the early pace.
Race 8 No6 FRENCH MINSTREL (Nap)
Trainer: William Knight – Jockey: Adam Kirby
Dual course and distance scorer FRENCH MINSTREL went up only 3lb for the latest of those and can extend his winning sequence to four. He’s been sparked by the fitting of a visor, in which he is unbeaten.
SOUTHWELL
Race 3 No4 PARISIEN BLUE (Nap)
Trainer: Nicky Henderson – Jockey: Nico de Boinville
In the colours of popular mare Verdana Blue, PARISIEN BLUE is strongly fancied to open her account in this mares’ bumper and is the only bet on a tricky card. The Getaway mare was a promising third on debut at Chepstow when a well-supported favourite, and can show that the losses made on her in Wales were merely lent.
WINDSOR
Race 1 No7 HAWRIDGE STORM
Trainer: Rod Millman – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
HAWRIDGE STORM rewarded the patience of his owner when gamely scoring over course and distance on his seasonal return. Having broken his duck at the thirteenth attempt, he can now get that monkey off his back by going back-to-back. Conditions are in his favour, and he has room for further improvement.
Race 2 No2 BONITA B (Each Way)
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Charles Bishop
Tippy Toes sets the standard but for value BONITA B is worth backing each way. The Oasis Dream filly is not an obvious choice after showing little so far, but is certainly wiser than when she last ran, gaining experience of racing on grass that day at Nottingham.
Race 3 No6 MAHALE (Each Way)
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Silvestre De Sousa
There isn’t much of MAHALE who pays for her consistency without winning. Connections now put her back into novice company with a new and hopefully significant jockey doing the steering.
Race 5 No4 SOLID STONE
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Ryan Moore
Any more rain would assist the promising Brentford Hope who is much respected, but SOLID STONE will be all the better for his comeback outing at Ascot and if ridden positively could take a bit of pegging back.
Place Accumulator Perm (Races 2-8)
2, 10 x 6 x 7, 6, 5 x 4, 2 x 6, 10, 4 x 11 x 2, 5, 3
R108
