Neil Morrice best bets and tips – Saturday 24 September 2022

NEWMARKET

Race 2 JUDDMONTE CHEVELEY PARK STAKES (Group 1)

No6 MEDITATE (Nap)

Trainer: Aidan O’Brien – Jockey: Ryan Moore

Trillium showed she has speed to burn with her resounding triumph for Richard Hannon in the Flying Childers at Doncaster to follow her more impressive success in the Molecomb at Goodwood. She needs to show she’s as good over a sixth furlong, though her pedigree points to that not being a problem. Swingalong proved a surprise package when taking out the Lowther as a 25-1 roughie, form which has been endorsed to a point by the second Queen Me. Her task is to prove that York wasn’t a fluke, so the logical way to go is MEDITATE. The Coolmore filly was a three-times Group winner before her defeat at the hooves of the scintillating Tahiyra at the Curragh. This engaging daughter of No Nay Never is strongly fancied to bounce back, and even a repeat of that last run should be sufficient to see her safe home.

Race 3 JUDDMONTE MIDDLE PARK STAKES (Group 1)

No1 BLACKBEARD

Trainer: Aidan O’Brien – Jockey: Ryan Moore

This promises to be a sizzling heat, with multiple scorers Mischief Magic, Persian Force, Marshman and BLACKBEARD the ones to concentrate on.

Mischief Magic has looked better with every run since returning from a break and has his tail up following a Group 3 triumph on Polytrack.

Persian Force was a comfortable winner of the July Stakes at this course before being hammered by Little Big Bear in the National Stakes. He then had to play second fiddle to Blackbeard in the Group 1 Prix Morny at Deauville. There seems no reason why that form shouldn’t be confirmed, and I expect BLACKBEARD to bolster his chances for next year’s 2,000 Guineas.

Race 4 bet365 CAMBRIDGESHIRE HANDICAP

No4 MUJTABA

Trainer: William Haggas – Jockey: Jim Crowley

MUJTABA looks like a Group horse masquerading as a handicapper, and can provide his trainer with a first success in this first leg of the Autumn Double. The Dubawi gelding appears to have been afforded a classic preparation with progress in each of his last two outings, culminating in a resounding success at Doncaster. With few miles on his racing clock, he can go further forward, and though very short in the market is entitled to be. Savvy Victory and Jimi Hendrix are similar entities from the three-year-old contingent and need respecting. The respective sons of New Bay have very solid form in handicaps, and if coping with the rigours of the 29-runner field should go away with a cheque.

Majestic Dawn has more weight than he carried to an audacious triumph in this race two years ago, but has subsequently proven himself at Group level and can’t be ruled out. Austrian Theory showed up for a long way in the Golden Mile, and though ultimately weakening in that GOODWOOD contest is capable of an improved showing on this more suitable track. Others to go into my exotics are Dual Identity, and the dangerously unexposed Injazati.

Prediction: 1st MUJTABA, 2nd Savvy Victory, 3rd Jimi Hendrix, 4th Injazati, 5th Dual Identity, 6th Austrian Theory

HAYDOCK PARK

Race 3 No9 COUNT D’ORSAY ( Each Way)
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: David Allan

With a much improved run to trouble the judge last time, COUNT D’ORSAY looked like a horse getting ready to win. The Dandy Man gelding has gone two years without success, but can come out of that wilderness for his in form handler.

Race 5 No7 ONSLOW GARDENS (Nap)
Trainer: Richard Hannon – Jockey: Sean Levey

With two near-misses in as many starts, ONSLOW GARDENS sets a standard that will be hard for his foes to match. He pushed a decent winner all the way to the line at Ascot last time, and this looks an easier assignment.

Race 6 No10 DRAFTED
Trainer: James Horton – Jockey: PJ McDonald

DRAFTED stayed on strongly to take home a minor cheque on his latest outing over this course and distance. That was a solid first run in a handicap by the gelding, who with luck in running can now open his account.

CHESTER

Race 1 No6 PREPENSE ( Nap)
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Richard Kingscote

PREPENSE was all the rage for her debut on the July course at Newmarket but after hindering her cause by running green, couldn’t catch Comissioning. The Kingman filly can’t afford to show inexperience on this sharp course, but if having learned from her initial outing will be very hard to beat.

Race 4 No2 ALFRED BOUCHER
Trainer: Ian Williams – Jockey: Richard Kingscote

ALFRED BOUCHER ran two amazing races at York, scoring on the first day of the Ebor Festival and coming back out three days later to go within an ace of taking out the Ebor itself. The grey looked magnificent before the last named race, and if not having his run slightly impaired might well have won. He’s gone up in the weights, but can with a win here confirm that he’s a much improved performer since joining the Williams stable.

RIPON

Race 3 No7 VALSTAR ( Nap)
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: Sean Kirrane

VALSTAR left her previous form behind when wearing first time cheek pieces at Catterick and chasing home Spioradalta on that nursery debut. Moved up to a more suitable mile today, she can prove the best bet on a very tricky card.

CHELMSFORD CITY

Race 5 No9 BAROQUE STAR ( Each Way)
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: George Bass

BAROQUE STAR has so far underwhelmed for one with such a fine pedigree. She is an enigma, and from a feather weight worth supporting to stage an upset in this stayers’ handicap.

Race 8 No4 BLAIRLOGIE
Trainer: Laura Mongan – Jockey: Luke Morris

BLAIRLOGIE took an eternity to get off the mark, doing so be the skin of his teeth here at the end of last month. If that has acted as a confidence boost the gelding can follow-up, though any market move for The Game Is On should also be worth heeding.

Place Accumulator Perm (Races 2-8)

7, 4 x 14, 5, 7 x 4, 10, 6 x 9, 8 x 1 x 5, 2 x 4, 3

R144

Jackpot Perm (Races 5-8)

9, 8, 6, 1 x 1, 3 x 5, 2, 6 x 4, 3, 5, 1

R96