Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Saturday's racing coming your way from Doncaster, Chester, Lingfield Park, Musselburgh and Bath on 14 September 2024.
DONCASTER
Race 1 BETFRED CHAMPAGNE STAKES (Group 2)
No3 CHANCELLOR (Nap)
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: Rab Havlin
CHANCELLOR was a most impressive scorer on his introduction at this course only for his halo to slip in a Listed race at Ascot. That odds-on defeat proved only a temporary blip, however, as the Kingman colt thundered back with another wide-margin triumph in novice company on the Town Moor. The Gosden’s could do with a colt to threaten for high honours next year and this is the one.
Race 3 BETFRED PARK STAKES (Group 2)
No2 KINROSS
Trainer: Ralph Beckett – Jockey: Rossa Ryan
KINROSS hasn’t looked quite as good as he was in three outings this season, but the now seven-year-old nevertheless has strong claims to repeat his 2022 victory in this race. Frankie Dettori played a major part in the gelding’s impressive 2022 and 2023 seasons and Rossa Ryan is now in the hot seat and gradually getting to know his mount who looked on the way back when third to Audience in the Lennox Stakes at Goodwood. The combination can foil three-year-old LEAD ARTIST, who though stepping up the class ladder was most impressive when scoring at Goodwood’s big meeting and should have more to offer.
Race 4 BETFRED ST LEGER (Group 1)
No3 ILLINOIS
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien – Jockey: Wayne Lordan
It’s very short odds that the oldest and Final Classic heads over the Irish Sea to Ballydoyle. Aidan O’Brien fields three of the seven acceptors and they are carded to occupy those places in the betting. A seventh success in this historic race can reach him via ILLINOIS, who maintained his fine sequence of earning runs with a narrow defeat by Los Angeles in the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York. He’s taken on by another Galileo colt in unbeaten JAN BRUEGHEL but my interest in him is tempered by the fact that he had to work hard to take the spoils in the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood. The form was given a boost by runner-up Bellum Justum in a US Grade 1 but it may be SUNWAY who gives my selection most to do. The David Menuisier-trained colt brings strong form to the table via his Irish Derby second, while a step-in trip should also benefit him.
Prediction: 1st ILLINOIS, 2nd Sunway, 3rd Jan Brueghel
Race 5 No10 RATHGAR (Each Way)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Hollie Doyle
Having Doyle in the saddle for the first time together with the addition of first-time cheek pieces can work the oracle for RATHGAR. The chestnut has enjoyed stepping back to a mile and a quarter and ran better than his finishing position indicates on his latest start at York. He’s handily weighted on his best form, and should be involved.
Race 7 No1 JOHAN (Each Way)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Rossa Ryan
In the same colours and on his favourite course JOHAN can cut the mustard in the finale. The seven-year-old hasn’t been without his issues since plundering the Lincoln over course and distance two years ago, but has shown on more than one occasion that he’s dangerous when returning from a break, as is the case today.
CHESTER
Race 7 No4 ITHACA’S ARROW (Nap)
Trainer: Dominic Ffrench Davis – Jockey: Ben Ffrench Davis
ITHACA’S ARROW shaped with considerable promise when claiming a cheque on his belated return to action at Goodwood. That narrow defeat suggests he’s every bit as good as he was when placed on his final three starts of the 2023 season and this dual-purpose performer looks to hold the cards required for him to go one better.
LINGFIELD PARK
Race 2 No5 CLARA BARTON
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Edward Greatrex
CLARA BARTON finished just out of the money on her debut here in the spring, and while having a far from clear run in her training subsequently, seems to have been found the perfect opportunity to put one on the board. Her recent work has been encouraging.
Race 3 No6 MARCHOGION (Nap)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: David Probert
MARCHOGION finished second in a warm-looking heat at Chester and is now on a third career start in a race he can dominate. The Mehmas colt has worked well on the all-weather since that very encouraging effort, and rates the best bet on the card as he switches to Polytrack.
MUSSELBURGH
Race 2 No4 KIRKDALE (Nap)
Trainer: Ed Bethell – Jockey: Callum Rodriguez
KIRKDALE did not go unbacked when just out of the money on debut at Haydock. He will come on in leaps and bounds for that educational outing and can add to his trainer’s good strike rate with juveniles this season.
Race 4 No5 STRETCH
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Connor Beasley
STRETCH is a very interesting proposition for this bottom-grade handicap. The Sixties Icon filly didn’t get the trip when tried over two miles at Ffos Las where she was going as well as anything two furlongs out. Back to a mile and a half, she can take the spoils in the colours of former trainer David Elsworth.
BATH
Race 2 No2 CALSHOT SPIT (Nap)
Trainer: Sheena West – Jockey: Rose Dawes
CALSHOT SPIT has proved a shrewd purchase by West and is developing into a smart dual-purpose performer. He opened his account on the Flat at Lingfield before making a hot favourite work hard for his win at Stratford. He’s been placed in three hurdles either side of the victory, and under the apprentice that guided him home in the Lingfield race can win again.
Race 3 No9 SUBSONICTOSHANNON (Each Way)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Rose Dawes
Invincible Spirit filly SUBSONICTOSHANNON can outperform her lofty price in the market for this nursery. It’s true that she’s failed in a couple of starts on grass to endorse her earlier promise on the all-weather, but after thriving at home in the last month might be capable of raising her game to get into the shake-up.
Race 4 No7 CARIBBEAN WIND
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Charles Bishop
CARIBBEAN WIND has troubled the judge in two handicaps since opening her account in a Ripon novice. She has few miles on her racing clock, and has to be involved if maintaining her overall level of form in just four 2024 outings.
Race 8 No9 DIAMOND COTTAGE (Each Way)
Trainer: Malcolm Saunders – Jockey: Charlie Bennett
DIAMOND COTTAGE keeps threatening to turn back the clock, and after a near miss at Chepstow can make this a first success in 15 months. She’s not quite as effective here as at Brighton or Chepstow but is fancied to notch a popular triumph for her local trainer.
Place Accumulator Perm (Races 2-8)
2 x 9, 6, 1, 8 x 7 x 1, 7 x 2, 7, 10 x 2, 13, 11 x 9, 1
R144
