Neil Morrice best bets and tips – Saturday 11 May 2024

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Race 1 No2 YOUTHFUL KING (Each Way
Trainer: Luke Dace – Jockey: Charles Bishop

YOUTHFUL KING has posted a few good efforts in similar company without enjoying the rub of the green. If getting some racing real estate at the business end he looks the one that can hamper paper favourite Kotari’s bid to complete a hat-trick.

Race 2 No2 ROSE PRICK (Each Way)
Trainer: Ed Walker – Jockey: Oisin Murphy

With few miles on her racing clock, ROSE PRICK is one that can progress to trouble a couple of in-form rivals at the bottom of the weights. Both My Margie and Flying Finn bid to seal hat-tricks but my selection has improved for her tenacious earning comeback run at Kempton and will enjoy a return to turf.

Race 3 No17 PEARLE D’OR (Each Way)
Trainer: David O’Meara – Jockey: Silvestre De Sousa

PEARLE D’OR usually takes a run to get into the zone, which is where he will need to be in order to get into the shake-up for the day’s betting bonanza, the Victoria Cup. He looked to have a strictly educational race at Newmarket three weeks ago but can leave the form a long way behind at a course where his form figures read 213. Though burdened with top weight POPMASTER is one that can take away a cheque as he will also be a lot sharper than for his own return to action. MOSTABSHIR hails from the John Gosden yard and will similarly come on for his recent run back, while at longer odds ARABIAN STORM and especially HICKORY need respecting the latter following a near miss on his seasonal return at Kempton.

Prediction: 1st PEARLE D’OR, 2nd Hickory, 3rd Popmaster, 4th Mostabshir, 5th Arabian Storm

LINGFIELD PARK

Race 2 No8 FLASH BARDOT
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: David Probert

The one question mark against FLASH BARDOT is if the ground dries up. She revelled in easy conditions when scoring at Doncaster where she could be named the winner a long way out. Her trainer feels that terrain is important to the filly, who if turning up can maintain her upwardly mobile rise through the ranks.

Race 3 WILLIAM HILL OAKS TRIAL STAKES (Listed)

No3 DANIELLE
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: Kieran Shoemark

Cracksman filly DANIELLE landed the odds by a wide margin to open her account at Wetherby and is now asked to step up to the plate in a trial for Epsom. She will relish the step up to a mile and a half, is well regarded at Clarehaven and should take care of business.

Race 4 WILLIAM HILL LINGFIELD DERBY TRIAL STAKES (Listed)

No5 ILLINOIS
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien – Jockey: Ryan Moore

Fresh from their Friday bonanza at Chester, Coolmore can take out the day’s feature with Epsom hope ILLINOIS. The son of Galileo posted a mid-division finish when third of five starters for the Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown, but like several from the O’Brien stable has been made straighter for the run, which has done him the world of good. He will go to post with all guns blazing and can turn the tables on barn mate THE EUPHRATES, who finished second in the Leopardstown contest.

Race 5 WILLIAM HILL CHARTWELL FILLIES’ STAKES (Group 3)

No3 REMARQUEE (Nap)
Trainer: Ralph Beckett – Jockey: James Doyle

Kingman filly REMARQUEE managed just one win in a select campaign last year, but can now start to make up for the lost time. Having finished second in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes as well as the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes she is in calmer waters contesting this Group 3. If close to her best after wind surgery she should make no mistake and is the best bet on the card.

Race 6 No7 SOUTH KENSINGTON (Each Way)
Trainer: Hugo Palmer – Jockey: David Probert

Blue Point filly SOUTH KENSINGTON never quite managed to produce on the track what she’d shown at home last year, and her trainer now adds cheek pieces. This drying ground is what she’s been waiting for, and although not done any favours with the draw, today might be the time to catch her.

HAYDOCK PARK

Race 4 No10 MR FREEDOM (Each Way)
Trainer: Sheena West – Jockey: Marc Goldstein

MR FREEDOM is a speculative choice for the Swinton Hurdle, having run well to a point in every race he contested last season, including the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. He needs to be delivered late to make best use of his short, sharp turn of foot, and if getting plenty of cover can come through to earn at a double-figure price.

Race 7 No3 MINSTREL KNIGHT
Trainer: Ed Bethell – Jockey: Callum Rodriguez

MINSTREL KNIGHT steps up to a trip that will suit him following a couple of eye-taking and earning runs this season. He should open his account on this second run in a handicap.

NOTTINGHAM

Race 3 No4 TIGER BAY (Nap)
Trainer: Henry Candy – Jockey: Trevor Whelan

TIGER BAY only narrowly failed to deliver on her return to action at Windsor, showing in the process that she’s done well physically for her winter break. Her trainer excels with horses of her ilk, and can watch her go one better in his own colours.

HEXHAM

Race 2 No3 CHASE A FORTUNE (Each Way)
Trainer: Chris Grant – Jockey: Tom Midgley

CHASE A FORTUNE is still learning the rudiments of jumping fences but was good at his obstacles before fading at Carlisle. A winner at Catterick earlier in the year, he remains unexposed and capable of better than he’s produced so far.

Race 6 No2 BORNA GEM (Nap)
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies

BORNA GEM can prove the pick of the team his trainer brings to this borders track. Winner of the latest of her three points, she’s been working well and can prove the answer.

WARWICK

Race 7 No1 KINGSTON PRIDE (Nap)
Trainer: Nicky Henderson – Jockey: Nico de Boinville

KINGSTON PRIDE merits considerable respect as Henderson’s potential ace card on this summer jumps card. The grey has started odds-on in both outings for his current handler, finishing second at Lingfield before opening his account at Exeter. Winner of a point when based in Ireland, he has gone forward since last month’s success.

Place Accumulator Perm (Races 1-7)

5, 9 x 11, 2 x 1, 4 x 6, 5, 10 x 4, 2 x 1, 4 x 1

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