Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Sunday's racing coming your way from Newmarket, Salisbury and Hamilton Park on 5 May 2024.
NEWMARKET
Race 1 No3 GRAY’S INN (Each Way)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: David Probert
Inns Of Court filly GRAY’S INN is out of a mare by Clodovil and will not be unsuited by any cut in the ground. A rangy type, she’s been in good form at home, working as if she will have no issues getting this mile and a quarter. She needs to raise her game in order to win, but all the signs are that she’s improved.
Race 2 WILLIAM HILL DAHLIA STAKES (Group 2)
No3 CAERNARFON (Each Way)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: David Probert
Placed in two fillies’ Classics last year, CAERNARFON returns to the fray with Probert in the irons for the first time. The jockey has ridden a number of winners for the Channon stable recently, including three last week, and his presence can only be a boost for the daughter of Cityscape. She’s looked better with every piece of work running into this Group 2, and if reproducing her Guineas or Oaks for, from 2023 is the one to beat.
Race 4 QIPCO 1000 GUINEAS STAKES (Group 1)
No5 FALLEN ANGEL (Nap)
Trainer: Karl Burke – Jockey: Danny Tudhope
Karl Burke is widely considered to be one of our best trainers and it could be a red letter day for him as FALLEN ANGEL bids to bring put first Classic on his CV. The daughter of Too Darn Hot looked exceptional when blitzing her foes in both the Sweet Solera Stakes and the Group 1 Moyglare Stakes last year and Burke is delighted with her demeanour going into this, her biggest test. That victory at the Curragh stars the grey as being a bit special, and I have every confidence she can confirm her superiority over Aidan O’Brien’s only runner YLANG YLANG. The Godolphin-owned filly DANCE SEQUENCE ran a perfectly good trial even though she was beaten in the Nell Gwyn. Her trainer Charlie Appleby believes the outing has honed her to be at her peak, and she’s the one most likely to follow home the selection.
Prediction: 1st FALLEN ANGEL, 2nd Dance Sequence, 3rd Ylang Ylang
Longshot: Star Style
Race 7 No6 SUN GOD (Each Way)
Trainer: Hughie Morrison – Jockey: David Egan
SUN GOD might be a bit more exposed than some of his rivals, but he ended 2023 on a high note and has done well physically for his winter out. He can make an impact in this three-year-old only contest.
SALISBURY
Race 4 No7 PHOENIX MOON (Each Way)
Trainer: Denis Coakley – Jockey: George Bass
Salisbury’s season kicks off with a card that doesn’t set the pulse racing and PHOENIX MOON will be my only bet there. The Phoenix Of Spain filly has had a few issues but is well regarded, and can outrun her lofty paper price for a trainer who sent out his first winner of the season last week.
HAMILTON PARK
Race 2 No2 CAPO VATICANO (Nap)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Callum Rodriguez
CAPO VATICANO can justify the long journey from Berkshire and remain unbeaten. In order to do that the Calyx filly needs to dispatch the only other winner in the field, Airman, but her sex allowance should prove a useful asset on the way to achieving it.
