Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Saturday's racing coming your way from Ascot, Haydock Park, Kempton Park, Thirsk and Wolverhampton on 7 September 2024.
ASCOT
Race 1 No11 BLUE PRINCE (Each Way)
Trainer: David Evans – Jockey: David Probert
Probert gave BLUE PRINCE an absolute peach when delivering his mount with a winning spurt at Goodwood, since when the gelding made an earning return to the same course in the race won by Qirat. The colt appeals as the pick of the weights along with MISS INFORMATION who is well worth a saver.
Race 4 No2 VOYAGE (Each Way)
Trainer: Richard Hannon – Jockey: Pat Dobbs
VOYAGE seemed to have lost his way after unseating his rider at the start of the Derby, but the Golden Horn colt signalled he was on the way back with a solid earning run at Newbury. He showed that cut in the ground holds no perils for him when successful on debut at the last-named course, and while not obviously well handicapped has few miles on his racing clock, and could find more.
Race 5 No4 FRESH (Nap)
Trainer: James Fanshawe – Jockey: Billy Loughnane
Two years have elapsed since FRESH recorded his latest triumph in this same race, but back-to-back earning efforts at the course in July strongly suggest he’s on the verge of an overdue delivery. In a smaller field than he usually contests the seven-year-old can put his best foot forward.
HAYDOCK PARK
Race 2 No6 MASTER BUILDER (Each Way)
Trainer: David Menuisier – Jockey: William Buick
MASTER BUILDER has been easy to back on both outings since returning from a mid-season break. However, he ran better than his final placing indicates on AW debut at Kempton, and improved on that when claiming a minor cheque in a Class2 at York. On just a fifth career start and with a Buick an eye-taking booking he could easily have more to offer.
Race 5 BETFAIR SPRINT CUP (Group 1)
No14 UNEQUAL LOVE (Each Way)
Trainer: William Haggas – Jockey: Danny Tudhope
UNEQUAL LOVE is out to add weight to the theory that surmounting the divide between handicaps and Group 1 level is more likely to happen in the sprint division than any other. The Wokingham Stakes winner took a pleasing first step into the Pattern with a close third in the Group 3 Summer Stakes at York, where she finished with a wet sail and would have grabbed second in another stride. The Dutch Art filly has won on the soft and as a six-race winner from only 11 starts impresses me as a horse that needs following through the closing weeks of the season. The fact that a field of 16 have assembled for the contest tells me it’s one of the most open Group 1s of the year. ELITE STATUS brings an unblemished 2024 record to the table and can finish in the shake-up while his stablemate SPYCATCHER impressed at Deauville to show he’s fully back in the game. SHOULDVEBEENARING is a big price and too dangerous to safely leave out, while INSHERIN could easily bounce back from his out-of-the-money run in what looked a funny July Cup. If the ground gets bottomless rank outsider VADREAM might also have a say.
Prediction: 1st UNEQUAL LOVE, 2nd Elite Status, 3rd Shouldvebeenaring, 4th Spycatcher, 5th Insherin, 6th Vadream
Race 7 No7 ARKHALIA FLYNN (Nap)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: George Bass
ARKHALIA FLYNN made it three wins from his last four starts in convincing style at Windsor to stamp himself as a horse on the up and up. George Bass knows how to get a good tune out of him, and that apprentice’s 3lb claim can count for much in the gelding’s toughest test to date, but one he can succeed in.
KEMPTON PARK
Race 1 UNIBET SIRENIA STAKES (Group 3)
No8 IT AIN’T TWO
Trainer: Hugo Palmer – Jockey: Harry Davies
Calyx filly IT AIN’T TWO is perfectly drawn to attack as she steps up the class ladder. She’s certainly not rested on her laurels, but seemed right in the zone when powering home at Chester last week. She’s taken those exertions in her stride and can stave off the strong challenges of SYMBOL OF STRENGTH and BRIAN.
Race 2 UNIBET SEPTEMBER STAKES (Group 3)
No7 KALPANA
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: PJ McDonald
KALPANA receives fully a stone from last year’s winner Hamish which should be enough to tilt the balance of the scales in her favour. Three-year-old fillies can improve at a rate of knots at this time of the season, and the daughter of Study Of Man was hugely impressive in landing some good bets in a Listed race at Hamilton. She’s maintained a good level of form throughout the season, making her the percentage call for one of this course’s premier races.
Race 5 No1 FERROUS (Nap)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Edward Greatrex
Having put up a career-best run when overcoming a poor draw over course and distance back in April, the boot is on the other foot for FERROUS as he enjoys the luxury of a berth one off the fence. The field will turn right-handed into the straight and if under his new jockey, the grey can corner handily, his turn of foot can prove decisive at the business end. Though disappointing in the Wokingham, his latest run at York was better than it looked, while he’s been freshened up subsequently and is in great heart.
THIRSK
Race 3 No2 HUSCAL
Trainer: Charlie Hills – Jockey: Jason Watson
HUSCAL ran green but it made no difference to his chances at Ripon, where he ended up a wide margin winner. He carries a penalty in this warm novice but clearly has an engine, and having educated himself at the garden course can take this step up the ladder as one of the the best bets on the card.
Race 4 No8 KINGS MERCHANT
Trainer: Ed Bethell – Jockey: Callum Rodriguez
KINGS MERCHANT is a straightforward individual from whom backers usually get what they expect. He’s proved a good money spinner for his owners, and after another solid run in defeat at Ripon can bounce back to make this a fourth win of the season.
Race 6 No3 POL ROGER (Nap)
Trainer: Michael Dods – Jockey: Connor Beasley
POL ROGER can make it two wins from two visits to this track by taking out the historic Hambleton Cup. He’s posted a string of four near-misses since posting back-to-back victories at Ayr, while his connections must be rubbing their hands at how favourably this race has cut up for him.
WOLVERHAMPTON
Race 3 No2 STAR OF MEHMAS (Nap)
Trainer: Richard Hughes – Jockey: George Rooke
There was no fluke about the way STAR OF MEHMAS stylishly opened her account with a telling turn of foot at Lingfield. She can only have learned from that second outing, and is strongly fancied to defy a penalty on the way to better things.
Place Accumulator Perm (Races 2-8)
3 x 2 x 1 x 6, 2, 3, 1 x 2, 7, 4 x 10, 9, 1 x 4, 9, 11
R108
