Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Saturday's racing coming your way from Newmarket, Haydock Park, Ripon and Chelmsford City on 28 September 2024.
NEWMARKET
Race 1 No10 MAGIC LOVE (Each Way)
Trainer: Harry Charlton – Jockey: Trevor Whelan
MAGIC LOVE landed a gamble when encountering easy ground for the first time at Thirsk. The Starspangledbanner filly moves up in distance and grade for this Class2 nursery but has done well since that first career success.
Race 3 JUDDMONTE CHEVELEY PARK STAKES ( Group 1)
No2 BABOUCHE
Trainer: Ger Lyons – Jockey: Colin Keane
Two unbeaten in three fillies from Ireland can dominate this important 1,000 Guineas trial, with BABOUCHE just preferred to LAKE VICTORIA. By Frankel out of a Showcasing mare, Lake Victoria packed too powerful a punch for Simmering at the end of the Moyglare and should relish this stiff finish on a first visit to HQ. However, she may already be looking for a longer trip than 1200 metres, and Kodiac filly BABOUCHE should have too much toe for her. The selection showed when beating Whistlejacket in the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes that she’s out of the top drawer, and in the colours of the sponsors looks the one to be on.
Race 4 JUDDMONTE MIDDLE PARK STAKES (Group 1)
No8 WHISTLEJACKET (Nap)
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien – Jockey: Ryan Moore
If BABOUCHE lands the Cheveley Park it will provide a notable boost to the claims of Coolmore’s WHISTLEJACKET in this sizzling contest. The chestnut embarks on a seventh outing of the season having started favourite on each occasion. His latest dominating triumph in the Prix Morny at Deauville was gained in testing French ground, and the prevailing stamina-sapping conditions make me more confident he can take the spoils as the best bet on the card.
Race 5 BET365 CAMBRIDGESHIRE HANDICAP
No26 ROI DE FRANCE (Each Way)
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
Unexposed three-year-olds have a good overall record in the first leg of the autumn double, and while I’m uncertain that he’s a Group horse in the making ROI DE FRANCE can still prove the way to go. The son of Sea The Stars hasn’t run in conditions like this, but he brings an attractive profile to the table, having run into a useful opponent when held by James Webb on handicap bow at Yarmouth. While that run proves he stays nine furlongs, the fact that he’s out of a mare by Dansili points to him handling the soft, and on just a fifth career start he could easily be a blot on the handicap. MYTHICAL GUEST claimed a minor cheque in the same Yarmouth contest and could hit the board at much longer odds. THIS SONGFORYOU impressed on his latest start and has to be respected for Emet Mullins under a 4lb penalty, while DUAL IDENTITY and the 2022 winner MAJESTIC could also get into the shake-up and at big double-figure prices.
Prediction: 1st ROI DE FRANCE, 2nd This Songforyou, 3rd Majestic, 4th Dual Identity, 5th Mythical Guest
Race 7 No11 YORKSHIRE (Each Way)
Trainer: Ed Bethell – Jockey: Callum Rodriguez
YORKSHIRE flashed home when second to Persuasion at Haydock to confirm he’s reaching the same level of form as when scoring at Thirsk and finishing second at Doncaster in the early summer. He goes to post off a relatively light campaign, and with his trainer shelling out the winners is one to greatly respect.
HAYDOCK PARK
Race 1 No10 WHISKEY PETE (Each Way)
Trainer: Ralph Beckett – Jockey: Hector Crouch
Things haven’t quite gone to plan for WHISKEY PETE but he makes a fair amount of appeal in receipt of upwards of 4lbs from his foes in this all-aged handicap. When returning from a short break to chase home Brioni at Ascot the selection showed once again that he likes plenty of cut in the ground, while if building on that he can profit in a race where older horses at the top of the weights in the shape of Rhoscolyn and Raadoburg can also earn.
Race 5 No5 MUSIC PIECE (Nap)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: David Probert
Camelot filly MUSIC PIECE outperformed her price when second to Ballet Slippers on debut at Ascot. In the colours of Michael Tabor’s wife Doreen, she can open her account by outpointing the penalised Consent.
RIPON
Race 1 No8 MEDINILLA (Nap)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Edward Greatrex
MEDINILLA finished off her race in eye-taking fashion when sixth to Shameful at Newbury. The Rumble Inthejungle filly has greatly benefitted from the experience gained that day, and in the colours of Mick Channon should open her account.
Race 4 No9 TROPICAL ISLAND (Each Way)
Trainer: Richard Fahey – Jockey: Connor Murtagh
TROPICAL ISLAND is a sprinter who so far hasn’t managed to produce the promise she showed as a juvenile. It’s a commonly seen trait in this part of the racing spectrum, but having said that there was more to like about her latest effort when fourth over seven furlongs in a first-time hood at Thirsk. With the headgear retained, and back at her optimum trip of 1200 metres, the Inns Of Court filly can again get into the shake-up.
Race 7 No2 AL AMEED
Trainer: Simon Crisford – Jockey: PJ McDonald
AL AMEED has grazed the woodwork on his last two outings on Polytrack and now tries his luck on very soft turf. The jury is out on whether he’ll enjoy it, but the fact that he’s out of a mare by Galileo gives him a good chance to take care of business in colours synonymous with some good horses of yesteryear.
CHELMSFORD CITY
Race 4 No6 SHAMADOR (Nap)
Trainer: Archie Watson – Jockey: Hollie Doyle
Having an inside draw can be very useful on the turning 1400 metres here and that’s one reason to side with SHAMADOR. The Shaman colt posted a pleasing effort when second on his Newcastle introduction and if building on that can repel the challenges of Metro Dubai and Mandana.
Race 6 No5 HAPPY TEARS
Trainer: Daniel Kubler – Jockey: Daniel Muscutt
The handicaps on this card look a bit of a minefield, but not so this race in which HAPPY TEARS is carded to go well breaking from the rail. From the final crop of Dandy Man, the selection delivered over course and distance on only a second outing after joining his trainer. He also ran well on his other AW start at the track, and should again be in the money.
Place Accumulator Perm (Races 3-9)
1 x 6 x 7, 2, 1, 3 x 5, 11, 12 x 4, 2, 1 x 1, 14, 4 x 2, 6
R216
