Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing coming your way from Lingfield, Ascot, Haydock, Hexham, Leicester and Warwick on 13 May 2023.
LINGFIELD PARK
Race 2 Chartwell Fillies’ Stakes (Group 3)
No4 SACRED
Trainer: William Haggas – Jockey: Ryan Moore
SACRED hails from a stable that had a welcome boost with Hamish at Chester, and one that can further fill its coffers when the five-year-old contests this valuable prize on her seasonal reappearance. The Exceed And Excel mare should cope with the switch to sand in a race that can tee her up nicely for a tilt at the Lockinge Stakes later in the month.
Race 3 Oaks Trial Fillies’ Stakes (Listed)
No4 ETERNAL HOPE
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: William Buick
ETERNAL HOPE commanded the market and the race itself when opening her account for Godolphin at Chelmsford. She’s a well-related individual and probably has a lot more to offer, though whether she’s an Epsom filly remains to be seen.
Race 4 Lingfield Derby Trial (Listed)
No4 MILITARY ORDER
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: William Buick
The most interesting horse on view here is MILITARY ORDER. The son of Frankel looked the part when coming home unchallenged at Newbury last month and more is expected of him. He’s a cracking prospect who can book his ticket for Epsom by completing a fine hat-trick.
ASCOT
Race 3 No23 DARKNESS (Each Way)
Trainer: David O’Meara – Jockey: Andrew Atzeni
The Victoria Cup is one of the big betting extravaganzas of the day and while it’s impossible to be completely confident DARKNESS is a horse I keep going back to. He was a Listed winner and Group placed in France and recent evidence indicates he’s taken a while to readjust since arriving in North Yorkshire. He didn’t get going until it was all over in The Gatekeeper’s race at Newmarket but from stall 3 in this big field and getting weight from each of his foes he appeals as a good each-way entity.
Race 4 No5 SON
Trainer: Richard Hannon – Jockey: Pat Dobbs
Valour And Swagger carries a 6lb penalty for his wide margin Windsor triumph. He seems sure to run well but acting on information I shall consider opposing him with SON, one of six newcomers in the race. The Too Darn Hot colt has shaped well in his preparatory work and can earn for owner Julie Wood.
Race 6 No4 CHIPS AND RICE
Trainer: James Fanshawe – Jockey: Jim Crowley
Golden Horn filly CHIPS AND RICE was a well-supported scorer at Lingfield on her debut for the Fanshawe stable. She won and finished second on soft ground last season, and is one of the best equipped in this to deal with the testing underfoot conditions.
HAYDOCK PARK
Race 1 No1 MILL GREEN (Each Way)
Trainer: Nicky Henderson – Jockey: Daryl Jacob
On a splendid mixed card MILL GREEN can pay to support in this opening long-distance handicap hurdle. The diminutive eleven-year-old showed with placed efforts in the Pertemps Final and the equivalent race at Aintree that he’s in the form of his life. He will enjoy the going and the track, and performs as well with Jacob in the saddle as with anyone.
Race 3 No3 RUN TO FREEDOM (Nap)
Trainer: Henry Candy – Jockey: Dane O’Neill
Creative Force underwhelmed when only third in the Abernant Stakes with Commanche Falls in front of him. Those placings are likely to be reversed but RUN TO FREEDOM has the scope to trounce the pair and the only other runner Tiber Flow in a fascinating conditions race. The selection ran the race of his life when second at 150-1 in the British Champions Sprint at Ascot, and by going one better can show it was no fluke.
Race 4 No1 AUCUNRISQUE (Each Way)
Trainer: Chris Gordon – Jockey: Nick Schofield
As long as the ground doesn’t get sticky AUCUNRISQUE can trouble the judge in this valuable Swinton Handicap Hurdle. Since his chasing career was put on hold the top weight has run well in two of three outings, winning the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury and finishing third in the Sussex Champion Hurdle at Plumpton. He’s the winner of six of his last eleven starts over hurdles and fences and can put in another prominent display with Irish challenger Byker, Teddy Blue and Lunar Sovereign others to include in exotic permutations.
Race 8 No3 EDGE OF DARKNESS
Trainer: Charlie Johnston – Jockey: Joe Fanning
EDGE OF DARKNESS hails from a yard doing well with its three-year-old handicappers. A most consistent operator last season, he’s ready to go for this return to racing on grass, and can get into the shake-up.
HEXHAM
Race 6 No4 EDMOND DANTES (Nap)
Trainer: Ruth Jefferson – Jockey: Richie McLernon
The only horse that appeals as a bet on a trappy card is EDMUND DANTES in the two-mile handicap chase. He’s managed to finish second in three of his last five starts and returns fresh from a break which can prove key to him returning to the winner’s circle.
NOTTINGHAM
Race 6 No2 STARNBERG (Nap)
Trainer: Richard Hannon – Jockey: Alec Voikhansky
STARNBERG is by Clodovil and bred to go on the ground he will encounter this evening. He was unfortunate to run into some well-handicapped foes last year, but in claiming a cheque in all but one of his six outings made it clear that he has ability.
LEICESTER
Race 5 No7 SOVEREIGN SLIPPER (Each Way)
Trainer: Henry Candy – Jockey: Trevor Whelan
SOVEREIGN SLIPPER engages in a first run on turf in almost two years and is yet to win on the surface, but this all-weather hat-trick maker is in good order for his first outing for six months. He’s endured training issues but when last seen on a racecourse at Wolverhampton ran a fine race to chase home Embour. More importantly, his stable has its team in very good form.
WARWICK
Race 1 No9 EURKASH
Trainer: Paul Webber – Jockey: Ned Fox
EURKASH is a bold jumping front runner who can prove hard to peg back on a track where accuracy is a recipe for success. Although proving weak in the finish on the odd occasion, he’s capable of making this a first success since the end of 2020.
Race 2 No9 POP MISTRESS (Nap)
Trainer: Richard Phillips – Jockey: Thomas Bellamy
The hooded POP MISTRESS returns from an enforced absence but needs to be taken seriously on her first run over jumps. She impressed when landing bumpers at Southwell and Uttoxeter and is well-regarded by a trainer who can occasionally unleash a useful prospect.
Race 8 No3 IDEAL DES BORDES
Trainer: Nicky Henderson – Jockey: Nico de Boinville
IDEAL DES BORDES was taken out of his race last week owing to unsuitable ground, but this well-regarded individual gets the chance to transfer his Irish point form to bumpers and make it a debut triumph under Rules at the main expense of Rock House.
Place Accumulator Perm (Races 2-8)
9 x 7 x 1, 2 x 1 x 5, 8 x 7, 9, 10, 6 x 3, 1
R32
