Neil Morrice best bets and tips – Saturday 13 August 2022

NEWBURY

Race 1 No8 DEFINITE
Trainer: Ralph Beckett – Jockey: Hector Crouch

DEFINITE could have been chasing a hat-trick in this opener had he not bumped into a handicap snip in Eagle’s Way at Nottingham. He can give that progressive stayer a boost by returning to winning ways in a first time tongue tie.

Race 5 BetVictor Hungerford Stakes (Group 2)

No1 CHINDIT
Trainer: Richard Hannon – Jockey: Pat Dobbs

Most in the featured Hungerford Stakes are Group 3 horses that could struggle to take out a Group 2, but that comment does not apply to CHINDIT. The son of Wootton Bassett has since landing a Listed race at Doncaster contested three Group 1s and a Group 2 in his four subsequent starts, taking out the Summer Mile at Ascot and latterly chasing the shadow of Baaeed for a third time in the Sussex Stakes.

Shouldering a Group 2 penalty doesn’t help him, but he is a classy performer and should have too much back from a break TIBER FLOW and RUN TO FREEDOM, the latter having run well in the Platinum Jubilee at Ascot before landing a conditions race at Salisbury.

Prediction: 1st CHINDIT, 2nd Tiber Flow, 3rd Run To Freedom

Race 7 No1 FRONTISPIECE (Nap)
Trainer: Amanda Perrett – Jockey: Mr Simon Walker

Connections of FRONTISPIECE have secured go-to amateur Walker for the mount on the eight-year-old who is seeking a fourth success at the track and also back in calmer waters than for his underwhelming effort last week. Should the combination get into a rhythm from the front they will be hard to reel in.

NEWMARKET

Race 1 No2 SINGLE
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Rob Hornby

Nathaniel mare SINGLE is hard to get right for win purposes, but as there could well be some pace that will help her settle she is of interest. She ran into one in Master Cloudy in the Brown Jack at Ascot but her opponents here seem weighted to their best, with ATLANTIS the one that could have more to offer.

Race 5 No4 INGRA TOR (Nap)
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Rob Hornby

On a third straight visit to the July course INGRA TOR can put his best foot forward. The Churchill colt has done a lot of growing which initially weakened him, but his second to Love De Vega over a longer trip last time reads well. He’s reunited with a jockey who won on him at Newmarket in the spring, and should show his foes a clean pair of heels.

Race 6 No2 RED KITE
Trainer: Mark Johnston – Jockey: Franny Norton

First time cheek pieces can assist RED KITE to victory in a race that might not take much winning. The Gleneagles gelding returns to a mile and a quarter which should be his bag, as he was doing good work at the finish over shorter at Pontefract last time.

RIPON

Race 1 No4 WEN MOON (Nap)
Trainer: Ben Haslam – Jockey: Andrew Mullen

Rain is important to WEN MOON who is unlikely to run if the ground remains fast. He’s skipped a couple of recent opportunities for that reason, but when he does run can prove a horse worth waiting for. He’s thrived since his course and distance triumph last month, and can prove too strong for New Definition, who seemed to throw in the towel at Musselburgh last time.

Race 3 William Hill Great St Wilfrid Handicap

No4 SUMMERGHAND (Each Way)
Trainer: David O’Meara – Jockey: Danny Tudhope

Fewer runners than usual contest the big betting extravaganza of the day but it remains an ultra competitive heat. More than one of the horses I fancy to run well are drawn low, and the one to beat if getting luck in running is SUMMERGHAND.

He ran better than his finishing position indicates in the Stewards’ Cup, and should enjoy these rolling cambers on a first visit to the garden course in over four years.

JUSTANOTHERBOTTLE is also short listed for an earning run as he was a clear cut winner here back in June but unsuited by Goodwood, trailing home in the Stewards’ Cup ruck for the second year running.

BLACKROD was only just out of the money in the Wokingham which gives this lightly-raced individual leading claims on his first outing for Ed Bethell and with go-to jockey Ben Curtis in the irons.

SNASH is another to discount at your peril, and with recent successes at Thirsk and Ayr is on a racing high.

Prediction: 1st SUMMERGHAND, 2nd Blackrod, 3rd Snash, 4th Justanotherbottle

Race 4 No3 PISANELLO
Trainer: David O’Meara – Jockey: Danny Tudhope

Given more room to manoeuvre in the closing stages, PISANELLO might have gone close at Thirsk last time. It was the latest of a handful of good efforts in defeat, and augers well for him converting for a trainer/jockey combo that’s in fine form.

PERTH

Race 6 No2 LAKE SHORE DRIVE (Nap)
Trainer: Donald McCain Jnr – Jockey: Brian Hughes

LAKE SHORE DRIVE has made a bright start for his trainer with a narrow defeat at Worcester and a gritty win over this course and distance. He has the bit between his teeth for further successes in the summer arena, and rates the best bet on a tough card.

WOLVERHAMPTON

Race 3 No5 STEELRIVER
Trainer: Michael Herrington – Jockey: Harrison Shaw

Veteran STEELRIVER has to put last week’s poor run over course and distance behind him, but he is on a winning mark if in the mood, and will be a value play at long odds for this spring round a left-handed bend.

Race 7 No1 HELM ROCK (Nap)
Trainer: Daniel Kubler – Jockey: Nicola Currie

HELM ROCK bolted up at Carlisle last week and has the same jockey doing the steering. Connections are looking for a quick follow-up and should not be disappointed. He should be a bet worth waiting for.

Place Accumulater Perm (Races 1-7)

2, 4 x 7, 2 x 5, 2, 8 x 2, 1, 10 x 1 x 1, 5

R72