Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing coming your way from York, Newbury, Newmarket, Chelmsford City, Doncester and Thirsk.
NEWBURY
Race 4 Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes (Group 1)
No1 BAAEED
Trainer: William Haggas – Jockey: Jim Crowley
Last season’s champion miler BAAEED is the outstanding horse in action on a Saturday jam-packed with fixtures in the UK. The unbeaten son of Sea The Stars has a greater allure than many other Group 1 winners for that very fact, and his astute handler has him popping his corks for what should be a smooth reintroduction in Newbury’s biggest and richest race of the season. Having wowed his fans by dethroning Palace Pier in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot, he can now consolidate on the way to even better things. ALCOHOL FREE is better than she showed at Sandown, and along with MOTHER EARTH can follow the favourite home.
Prediction: 1st BAAEED, 2nd Alcohol Free, 3rd Mother Earth
Race 5 No2 PERSIAN FORCE (Nap)
Trainer: Richard Hannon – Jockey: Rossa Ryan
PERSIAN FORCE blitzkreiged his foes on the opening day of the season in Doncaster’s Brocklesby Stakes and can take this en route to the Group 1 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Race 6 No3 FLASH BETTY
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Tom Marquand
FLASH BETTY looked out of her depth in the 1,000 Guineas, but back in Listed company and with a new jockey can give her trainer a welcome winner at his local track.
NEWMARKET
Race 7 No1 ROLFE REMBRANDT (Nap)
Trainer: Michael Scudamore – Jockey: Saffie Osborne
ROLFE REMBRANDT enjoyed switch to grass with a clear cut delivery at Wetherby to make it two wins from three outings this year. He’s looked much more the finished article since being equipped with blinkers, and under a capable apprentice can defy top weight.
THIRSK
Race 1 No1 COTAI PEARL
Trainer: Bryan Smart – Jockey: Graham Lee
COTAI PEARL chased home the more experienced Jungle Time on debut at Musselburgh and is going to be more worldly wise for this second career start in which Flying Barty can chase her home.
Race 5 No3 BOARDMAN
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: David Allan
The mercurial BOARDMAN didn’t enjoy the rub of the green round Chester last week. His pilot finished with plenty of horse underneath him, and connections will hope for a decent pace if he’s to make amends. If he gets it, he should.
Race 6 No10 EXCESSABLE
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: Duran Fentiman
EXCESSABLE provided a glimmer of hope that he’s about to come out of the wilderness when just out of the money behind The Armed Man at Catterick. The veteran has claims to post a minor shock on that evidence.
Race 7 No7 FROG AND TOAD (Nap)
Trainer: David O’Meara – Jockey: Jason Watson
Denied racing real estate at Wetherby to the extent he was virtually pulled up at Wetherby, FROG AND TOAD needs to be taken seriously in the nightcap, and should prove a bet worth waiting for.
CHELMSFORD CITY
Race 2 No3 BEGGARMAN (Nap)
Trainer: Hughie Morrison – Jockey: Louis Steward
Several in this stayers’ handicap have been in good form through the spring, including BEGGARMAN, who after a profitable campaign on the all-weather and near miss on return to grass at Pontefract is ready to put his best foot forward.
Race 3 No2 CRIMSON SAND
Trainer: Richard Hughes – Jockey: George Rooke
The sheer consistency of CRIMSON SAND has to be rewarded at some stage, and with a plum draw on the rail to assist, today could be the day. He’s been mixing it with some decent all-weather sprinters, and responded positively to the cheek pieces on latest start, which are retained.
Race 4 No2 SEASETT
Trainer: Charlie Fellowes – Jockey: Louis Steward
SEASETT powered home on debut for his trainer at Nottingham and is on very good terms with himself for this switch to sand. As long as there’s a strong pace for him to aim at her should be able to cope with this drop back on the distance ladder.
DONCASTER
Race 2 No5 AIMING HIGH
Trainer: David Simcock – Jockey: Joey Haynes
Lope De Vega filly AIMING HIGH gets weight from her foes and, as the least experienced runner in the field, has most room for progression. She has shown ability in each of her three starts to obtain a mark for this first handicap outing.
Race 6 No3 ROUDEMENTAL (Nap)
Trainer: Hugo Palmer – Jockey: Ross Coakley
ROUDEMENTAL made the perfect start for his new trainer when smoothly accounting for Grifter at Redcar. That pleasing first outing after a wind op is there to be improved on, and he can follow-up.
Place Accumulater Perm (Races 1-7)
1, 3 x 5 x 4, 1, 7 x 6, 4 x 2 x 3, 7
R24
