Neil Morrice best bets and tips – Saturday 9 July 2022

NEWMARKET

Race 3 No5 JIMI HENDRIX
Trainer: Ralph Beckett – Jockey: Rob Hornby

JIMI HENDRIX made a good fist of leading throughout the ultra competitive Britannia Handicap at Royal Ascot, only succumbing to winner Thesis and runner-up Saga in the last few strides. Having previously delivered off waiting tactics at Haydock, where he produced a smart turn of foot to come from last to first, he can put on a carbon copy of that run to gun down paper favourites Laasudood and Bath Of Honour.

Race 4 BET 365 SUPERLATIVE STAKES (Group 2)

No4 LION OF WAR (Nap)
Trainer: Mark Johnston – Jockey: Cieran Fallon

Johnston needs a horse to become a flagship and LION OF WAR can show he’s the one by completing a fine hat-trick. The Roaring Lion colt hasn’t put a foot wrong so far in scoring by wide margins at Leicester and Newcastle, and in humbling his foes by ten lengths and more at Gosforth Park indicated that he could be the real deal. By taking the scalp of fellow unbeaten Victory Dance he can elevate his claims for next year’s 2,000 Guineas.

Race 5 No6 BLESS HIM (Each Way)
Trainer: David Simcock – Jockey: Jamie Spencer

BLESS HIM is a law unto himself and always dropped out and given plenty to do in the major handicap over a mile. These exaggerated tactics were never more evident than when he was ridden cold in the Royal Hunt Cup, coming through to finish seventh, beaten only five lengths.

He was actually given an impossible task by a jockey that knows him well, but is in the way he elects to ride him. In a wide open contest JUMBY, MONTASSIB and RHOSCOLYN are others to include in exotic permutations.

Race 6 DARLEY JULY CUP (Group 1)

No1 ARTORIUS
Trainer: Anthony Freedman – Jockey: Jamie Spencer

PERFECT POWER has formed a powerful bond with Christophe Soumillon, and the colt will no doubt start favourite for this marquee event of the meeting following his clinical performance to take out last month’s Commonwealth Cup. A dual Group 1 winner as a juvenile, his connections have rather surprisingly elected to come here in preference to the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville.

CREATIVE FORCE showed that he will be a force to be reckoned with for Godolphin when running Naval Crown to a neck on seasonal returnin the Platinum Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot. A Group 1 winner at Ascot last autumn, the Dubawi gelding needs to be taken seriously.

FLAMING RIB is all heart, as he showed when next best to Perfect Power at Royal Ascot, and this upwardly mobile performer can take home a cheque.

ALCOHOL-FREE could surprise as an engaging roughie, given the fact she was clueless in the Platinum Jubilee and might have learned more about the rudiments of sprinting subsequently.

However, the one that really catches the imagination of Australian challenger ARTORIUS, whose connections elected to wait for this following his fine effort to stay on into third behind Naval Crown at Ascot. Some gelt the four-year-old was unlucky not to win, and granted his excellent record in the top sprints Down Under he appears to hold a favourite’s chance of victory.

ASCOT

Race 1 No2 BERKSHIRE PHANTOM
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: David Probert

Expert Eye colt BERKSHIRE PHANTOM troubled the judge on debut at Salisbury when easy to back. He will be more streetwise and should enjoy the step up to seven furlongs.

Race 2 No7 BERKSHIRE BREEZE (Nap)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Hayley Turner

BERKSHIRE BREEZE can open his account in the same colours, having very solid claims following a strong of near misses. He enjoys the skills of Turner for the first time, and can respond positively to the female touch.

Race 4 FRED COWLEY MBE MEMORIAL SUMMER MILE (Group 2)

No2 CHINDIT
Trainer: Richard Hannon – Jockey: Pat Dobbs

CHINDIT took out a Listed race on reappearance at Doncaster and subsequent carbon copy efforts in vainly chasing the shadow of Baaeed make him a powerful entity for the feature race on this card. The Wootton Bassett colt may have most to fear from Mutasaabeq, who holds good Pattern race placed form, but still has something to find.

YORK

Race 5 No1 CERTAIN LAD (Each Way)
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: George Bass

The John Smith’s Cup is one of the most historic races run on the Knavesmire. The renewal is as competitive as it’s been in a few years and one to include in exactas, trifectas and swingers is JUST FINE.

He was a market mover at Royal Ascot but resented the fast ground and was looked after in the closing stages. Granted his trainer’s fine record here MAHRAJAAN is another name to conjure with, but for the win CERTAIN LAD is the pick.

He did everything but win this two years ago, and might have made his move too soon when just out of the money in the Wolferton at Royal Ascot. He’s been working well under the same apprentice who partnered him in 2020, and can go one better.

Prediction: 1st CERTAIN LAD, 2nd Just Fine, 3rd Mahrajaan

CHESTER

Race 6 No1 ROMAN DRAGON (Nap)
Trainer: Hugo Palmer – Jockey: Pierre-Louis Jamin

ROMAN DRAGON set sail for home too early and was gunned down by Evocative Spark over course and distance last month. If given a more reserved ride, the top weight can make this a third success on the Roodee.

SALISBURY

Race 4 No6 TERRA MITICA (Nap)
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Rhys Clutterbuck

TERRA MITICA and Sous Les Etoiles are the fillies to concentrate on in a race where it’s hard to put your pen through any of the runners. The daughter of Ulysses was easy to back and needed her first run back at Chester but is now fully armed to go ne better.

Place Accumulater Perm (Races 1-7)

3 x 1, 7 x 5 x 6, 4 x 4, 7 x 3 x 4, 1

R16