Neil Morrice best bets and tips – Saturday 4 May 2024

NEWMARKET

Race 2 No15 CHAIRMANOFTHEBOARD (Each Way)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Edward Greatrex

Greatrex has struck on two of his first four rides since returning from a three-year absence from the weighing room. He teams up with Channon stalwart CHAIRMANOFTHEBOARD who finished second in this race 12 months ago, while signalling with a narrow defeat at Newbury last month that he’s as good as ever. The ground, track and trip are a recipe for another earning run from the selection.

Race 3 No14 MAJESTIC (Each Way)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: David Probert

In similar vein, MAJESTIC can underline his liking for the Rowley course by making his mark in this Class2. The 2022 Cambridgeshire winner went down by only a length when fifth on his reappearance at the Craven meeting here, losing three places in the final few strides. In fact that mile was shorter than ideal for the six-year-old, who has been sharpened by the outing and is strongly fancied to get into the shake-up.

Race 4 WILLIAM HILL PALACE HOUSE STAKES (Group 3)

No6 TWILIGHT CALLS
Trainer: Henry Candy – Jockey: Ryan Moore

This doesn’t look the hottest renewal of the Palace House and gives TWILIGHT CALLS a good opportunity to land a belated first triumph in Pattern company. Since scoring here in a handicap two years ago the six-year-old has contested seven Group races and excelled himself when chasing home Australian speedster Nature Strip in the 2023 King’s Stand Stakes. He will again have Royal Ascot on his agenda, but to hold hopes of matching last season’s effort he needs to dispatch this field, in which three-year-old Beautiful Diamond looms as a big threat.

Race 5 QIPCO 2000 GUINEAS (Group 1)

No9 ROSALLION (Nap)
Trainer: Richard Hannon – Jockey: Sean Levey

Hype is a word that when used at the right moment can add noughts to the value of a top-class racehorse. So when owner Michael Tabor tacitly suggested CITY OF TROY could be of a similar talent level to Frankel, the Justify colt became the hottest property to race out of Ballydoyle for many a year. That happened after the colt’s three-and-a-half lengths annihilation of Alyanaabi in the Dewhurst Stakes here in October, with trainer Aidan O’Brien hesitant to deny that he had never trained a better two-year-old. It is now the moment of truth for the odds-on favourite, who bids to make the season’s first Classic a fourth victory in as many starts and must have a great chance of achieving it. However, as much as I was impressed with City Of Troy and the way he devoured the Rowley terrain, this could be the day to take him on. The thorn in his side could be ROSALLION, who himself has a beautiful blend of speed and stamina on his page, being by Blue Point out of a mare by Derby winner New Approach. He did experience one blip when beaten into third by IBERIAN in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster, but his trainer’s insistence that the form was all wrong was vindicated when Rosallion surged to victory in the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp. What singled it out as a top class effort was that Rosallion quickened off a slow pace that would have better suited his mainly French-trained rivals, leaving a visually stunning impact on the Arc day crowd. I fancy him to not only turn the tables on Iberian from Doncaster, but more importantly inflict a first defeat on City Of Troy.

Prediction: 1st ROSALLION, 2nd City Of Troy, 3rd Iberian
Longshot: Ghostwriter

Race 6 No2 REAL DREAM
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Ryan Moore

While I could see YOUTHFUL KING running well in this at a big price the one to be on is REAL DREAM who has a very good record when returning from a break. It was evident for his success at Kempton exactly a year ago and also when he won by a wide margin at Ascot in July, his first run for two months. Although unable to dominate and having to give away ground by racing wide in the Ebor, he was put away after just one more satisfactory run at Doncaster and returns with some good readying work under his belt.

Race 8 No13 JUNGLE MAC (Each Way)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Charles Bishop

JUNGLE MAC might well have more wins on his CV but for a habit of hanging that cost the gelding dear at Kempton and Goodwood. It took a while for the penny to drop on his latest start on Polytrack, but recent evidence from his work is that he’s learned and grown up, qualities that he will need in spades if he’s to take away a cheque in this ultra-competitive race, but I think he can.

GOODWOOD

Race 4 No1 SUMO SAM (Nap)
Trainer: Paul Cole – Jockey: Hollie Doyle

SUMO SAM enjoyed her finest hour when capturing the Nassau Stakes here last summer and it’s hard to forget that she achieved it in monsoon-like conditions. Her connections have rubbed their hands whilst watching the rain and thunderstorms of the past few days, and have every right to think they have the answer to this Listed contest. It should serve as a perfect stepping stone for the grey on her path back towards a second tilt at the Nassau, with another soft ground specialist GATHER YE ROSEBUDS the main barrier to success.

Race 6 No4 SWEET REWARD (Each Way)
Trainer: Jonny Portman – Jockey: Rhys Clutterbuck

SWEET REWARD was an unconsidered 33-1 shot when chasing home Qaasid at Newbury and has come on for the run. Both her 2023 successes were gained with cut in the ground, and she might have been over-priced for a race in which she can definitely make an impact.

THIRSK

Race 2 No12 DANZAN (Each Way)
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: David Allan

With a pleasing first run back under his belt, DANZAN figures to go well for a trainer who rarely leaves the course empty-handed. He didn’t enjoy the rub of the green in the latter stages of the 2023 campaign, but that Thirsk effort has teed him up nicely for today.

Race 3 No1 NORTHERN EXPRESS ( Each Way)
Trainer: Michael Dods – Jockey: Paul Mulrennan

NORTHERN EXPRESS has a touch of class that’s often needed to triumph in the Thirsk Hunt Cup. Though versatile, he couldn’t cut the mustard dropping back to six furlongs for the Ayr Gold Cup, but away from that he triumphed in the race and at York, and has to be of interest carrying 5lb more on identically testing ground and breaking from a favourable draw.

Race 6 No13 GOLDEN MELODY (Each Way)
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: David Allan

GOLDEN MELODY came from a long way back when second at Pontefract on her first run of the season. The Belardo mare regularly makes the frame, and would be a deserving winner of this race round a lap of the track.

UTTOXETER

Race 1 No11 VALGRAND (Nap)
Trainer: Dan Skelton – Jockey: Harry Skelton

VALGRAND brings very solid bumper form to the table for this first run over jumps. He will have been well-schooled for his new role, and on a tricky card for punting rates the best bet.

Race 5 No1 MISTER BARCLAY
Trainer: Tom Symonds – Jockey: Caolin Quinn

It was by the skin of his teeth that MISTER BARCLAY lasted home at Exeter. The success confirmed he is performing at his peak, and as long as he gives as much for his new rider another success is in the offing.

YARMOUTH

Race 6 No7 BEAUTY GENERATION
Trainer: Marco Botti – Jockey: Marco Ghiani

BEAUTY GENERATION hasn’t so far shown her best when racing on grass, but as this is just her third outing on the surface there’s room for improvement on that side of the equation. She’s shown with a couple of near misses at Kempton that she’s fully in the zone, giving her strong claims to take the spoils.

Race 7 No1 WILD TIGER
Trainer: Saeed Bin Suroor – Jockey: Kieren O’Neill

WILD TIGER was turned over as an odds-on shot at the Dubai Carnival when last seen in March, having previously been beaten in a picture against Mountbatten in a competitive handicap, also at Meydan. Bin Suroor now adds cheek pieces which can assist the top weight as a bet worth waiting for.

Place Accumulator Perm (Races 1-7)

7, 4 x 2, 3 x 2 x 2, 4 x 6, 8 x 7, 1, 4 x 1, 3

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