Neil Morrice best bets and tips – Saturday 13 July 2024

NEWMARKET

Race 3 No7 LOCAL HERO (Each Way)
Trainer: Richard Hannon – Jockey: Sean Levey

LOCAL HERO underwhelmed on his only start on turf last year but is worth chancing to take away a cheque after a winning start to his three-year-old campaign. He was an authoritative scorer at Kempton, and though unable to back that up at Newcastle could have more to offer. In a good betting heat, VOLTERRA was a clear-cut winner at Newmarket before his defeat in the Britannia at Royal Ascot but any horse can be excused from an off day in that ultra-hot heat, and he could easily bounce back. He’s a double-figure price and is worth saving on.

Race 4 BET365 SUPERLATIVE STAKES (Group 2)

No1 ANCIENT TRUTH (Nap)
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: William Buick

Dubawi colt ANCIENT TRUTH defends a two-race unbeaten record in the Godolphin silks, and by completing a hat-trick can show he has the X-factor. Interestingly both his successes happened here at Headquarters and were gained in clear-cut fashion, with the selection showing an appreciation for a step up to 1400 metres when scoring on the July course.

Race 5 BET365 BUNBURY CUP HANDICAP

No13 SUMMERGHAND (Each Way)
Trainer: David O’Meara – Jockey: Callum Rodriguez

This course has proved a happy hunting ground for SUMMERGHAND, who demonstrated with an earning run at Thirsk that he’s on the way back. This represents a step back up the class ladder but it’s interesting that top northern jockey Rodriguez rides the veteran for the first time. His stablemate DARKNESS did us a good turn with his recent success and could make the frame under a 6lb penalty while YORKSHIRE is lightly raced with good form in the book, and looks over-priced. Top weight AWAAL needs considering on his seasonal return, and DIVINE LIBRA also can’t be safely dismissed.

Prediction: 1st SUMMERGHAND, 2nd Yorkshire, 3rd Darkness, 4th Divine Libra, 5th Awaal

Race 6 MY PENSION EXPERT JULY CUP (Group 1)

No6 REGIONAL (Each Way)
Trainer: Ed Bethell – Jockey: Callum Rodriguez

REGIONAL consolidated his position of an emerging sprint star when second to Australian ace Asfoora in the King’s Stand Stakes after confirming he’s just as effective at 1200 metres when filling the same placing in a Group 2 at the Curragh. If turning up in the same form he can again get into the shake-up and halt the impressive sequence of three-year-old INSHERIN. The latter also impressed when taking out the Commonwealth Cup and makes more sense than Aidan O’Brien’s RIVER TIBER, who after disappointing at the Royal meeting has a point to prove. KINROSS returned with a solid run in defeat in a Group 3 at Newcastle and could easily better that as he appears to be just as effective over 1200 metres as 1400.

Prediction: 1st REGIONAL, 2nd Insherin, 3rd Kinross, 4th River Tiber

ASCOT

Race 2 ANNE COWLEY MEMORIAL SUMMER MILE (Group 2)

No8 SONNY LISTON
Trainer: Ralph Beckett – Jockey: Rob Hornby

SONNY LISTON deserves a shot at a Group race after his Newbury Spring Cup success and a close second in the Royal Hunt Cup in which he was conceding stacks of weight to the winner Wild Tiger. The five-year-old has very good form at this course, having been unlucky not to win the same race at the 2023 Royal meeting. Today’s race features a number of horses that are also making a step up the class ladder, but he’s in great form, and can prove the answer.

Race 4 No7 COCO ROYALE (Nap)
Trainer: William Haggas – Jockey: Tom Marquand

COCO ROYALE can add to her trainer’s good record with handicappers at this track. The Frankel filly has been well backed on her successes at Yarmouth and Sandown and proved effective over this trip when coming home unchallenged on the last occasion. She is clearly improving at a rate of knots, and is the best bet on the card.

Race 7 No10 PEDRO VALENTINO
Trainer: Clive Cox – Jockey: David Probert

Last time put scorer PEDRO VALENTINO hails from a yard whose horses have nicely run into form and rates another tempting proposition. The addition of cheekpieces made a big difference to him for that Haydock win and he remains unexposed.

YORK

Race 1 No1 NORTHERN EXPRESS (Each Way)
Trainer: Michael Dods – Jockey: Paul Mulrennan

While there’s no hiding place from the handicapper for NORTHERN EXPRESS he might still have a say in this Class2 handicap. He’s well worth including in exotic perms along with AUSTRIAN THEORY, RHYTHM MASTER and the unexposed favourite ELNAJMM.

Race 4 JOHN SMITH’S SILVER CUP (Group 3)

No2 ALKASIB (Nap)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: PJ McDonald

In a tight-knit feature, ALKASIB can take the spoils. The grey-faced a rise in class after his four successes in 2023 and has shown he can handle it with an earning run in the Ormonde Stakes at Chester. He then ran well back in handicap company behind Belloccio at Royal Ascot, making him very hard to leave out of the equation.

SALISBURY

Race 3 No10 QUEEN MAKER
Trainer: Richard Hannon – Jockey: Sam Hitchcott

QUEEN MAKER troubled the judge on her final of two starts as a juvenile and has done well through the winter. On this belated 2024 return, the Cotai Glory filly can upset paper favourite National Interest.

Race 4 No4 HIGH SPIRITED (Each Way)
Trainer: Henry Candy – Jockey: Nicola Currie

HIGH SPIRITED is a work in progress but after back-to-back earning runs at Windsor can make this a first success in well over a year for a stable that has been quiet.

BIPOT Perm (Races 1-6)

6, 1, 8 x 10, 4, 11, 2 x 10, 6 x 4, 7, 5 x 5, 4 x 5, 1

R288