Neil Morrice best bets and tips – Thursday 12 May 2022

YORK

Race 1 No2 COPPER KNIGHT (Each Way)
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: David Allan

COPPER KNIGHT is a part of the furniture at York, and in a good place to repeat his gritty success over Mulzim in this race 12 months ago. After blowing away the cobwebs in a needed visit to Musselburgh the eight-year-old can make this a seventh win on the historic Knavesmire.

Race 2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies’ Stakes (Group 2)

No6 VILLE DE GRACE (Nap)
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Richard Kingscote

Stoute could dominate the outcome of this With VILLE DE GRACE taken to outpoint stablemate NOON STAR. The latter took a fair bit of winding up before scoring on her Nottingham return, while Ville De Grace gave it everything in the Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket, only to fail by a nose to hold Dreamloper. There’s not much between Ville De Grace and LILAC ROAD on Pride Stakes placings from Newmarket last autumn, but if it comes down to a battle for the spoils Ville De Grace is a tough as teak filly who will fight to the death.

Race 3 No13 TRAIS FLUORS (Each Way)
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Silvestre De Sousa

TRAIS FLUORS has had no luck since posting a wide margin triumph at Sandown ten months ago. He’s consequently dropped considerably in the ratings, and when assessing his latest offering in the Thirsk Hunt Cup it is apparent that had he not been denied a series of closing gaps in the straight he might have won. In the end, his rider had to sit and suffer, and finished with his hands full. Under the same jockey, he has a great chance to put the record straight.

Race 4 Al Basti Equiworld Dante Stakes (Group 2)

No3 DESERT CROWN
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Richard Kingscote

Nottingham maiden winner DESERT CROWN could be the colt to end the Coolmore domination of the Derby trials and is a very interesting runner in the race that remembers a wartime Derby hero. The son of Nathaniel romped home in spite of a market drift on his only 2021 start, and even though his preparation for Epsom met with a hiccup earlier in the year, he’s delighted Stoute in his work. Aidan O’Brien relies on BLUEGRASS who has plenty to prove after being beaten into fourth on his reappearance in the Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown, and a bigger threat looks to be Frankie Dettori’s mount MAGISTERIAL, a son of Frankel that made no mistake on seasonal return in a Leicester novice and is in the same ownership as staying champion Stradivarius.

Prediction: 1st DESERT CROWN, 2nd Magisterial, 3rd Bluegrass

SALISBURY

Race 1 No1 FANGORN (Nap)
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Rose Dawes

Dawes has been amongst the winners this week, is good value for her claim and can guide the giant FANGORN home in the opener. Second on him in a similar race at Epsom last September, she will be aboard a horse that is fine-tuned to go one better after getting worried out of it by Frog And Toad at Doncaster last month.

Race 5 No10 LOVE YOU GRANDPA
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Shane Kelly

For a second occasion Stoute complicates calculations by running two in the same race, but though respect is given to Love Someone it’s Frankel filly LOVE YOU GRANDPA that’s the one to be on. She has shown with some so,I’d work that she’s ready to build on the promise of her only start in 2021.

FONTWELL PARK

Race 5 No1 COAL STOCK (Nap)
Trainer: Joe Tizzard – Jockey: Harry Kimber

COAL STOCK can preserve his unbeaten record since joining the Tizzards. He was an authoritative scorer on debut for his rookie trainer over course and distance at the start of the month, and looks to have been found another good opportunity.

NEWMARKET

Race 4 No3 BAGUE D’OR (Each Way)
Trainer: Chris Wall – Jockey: Jack Mitchell

Small fields abound at the first twilight fixture of the season at HQ.
In this Class4 handicap BAGUE D’OR can show how effective he is coming back from a break, a trait he he demonstrated when scoring on his York reappearance last spring.

Race 7 No9 LOOE BEACH (Each Way)
Trainer: Richard Hannon – Jockey: Dane O’Neill

Footstepsinthesand colt LOOE BEACH opened his account with an improved performance on handicap debut last time. With that confidence boost under his belt, he can consolidate with a win in this stronger company.

Place Accumulater Perm (Races 1-7

5 x 4, 3 x 2 x 3, 2 x 1 x 1, 5 x 9, 5, 8

R24