Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Thursday’s racing coming your way Lingfield Park, Wolverhampton and Chelmsford City on 18 May 2022.
LINGFIELD PARK
Race 3 No4 SULOCHANA (Nap)
Trainer: Hughie Morrison – Jockey: Jim Crowley
SULOCHANA should have benefitted from her earning run on seasonal comeback at Salisbury last month. She is also happier at this shorter trip, and can prove more than a match for her four opponents.
Race 4 No7 GEARING’S POINT
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: George Bass
Harbour Watch filly GEARING’S POINT wasn’t beaten far when easy to back at Wolverhampton. She needs a career best to score on this first visit to Lingfield, but might well have more to offer on just a sixth career outing.
Race 8 No1 PETTOCHSIDE
Trainer: John Bridger – Jockey: Saffie Osborne
Veteran PETTOCHSIDE takes a class drop after placing in five furlong sprints at Epsom and Ascot. He’s built to carry weight, and if able to cross to the front from his outer draw should be hard to stop.
WOLVERHAMPTON
Race 3 No3 EL BELLO
Trainer: Marco Botti – Jockey: Neil Callan
EL BELLO finds himself with the perfect draw in this race over a lap of the Dunstall Park track. A course and distance scorer in February, the grey followed up at Newcastle and can now complete a fine hat-trick on his return from a freshening break.
Race 4 No11 TANGO TONIGHT (Nap)
Trainer: Hughie Morrison – Jockey: Louis Steward
Pivotal filly TANGO TONIGHT may appreciate cut in the ground when switching to turf, but for now she can endorse her liking for the Tapeta surface by posting a third earning run, and this time a win, at the Black Country venue.
Race 8 No7 GREEK FLAME
Trainer: James Fanshawe – Jockey: Daniel Muscutt
Siyouni filly GREEK FLAME underwhelmed in a Newcastle novice back in February but came back with excuses. The effort earned her a handicap mark, and she has strong claims along with another inexperienced rival Equion to do well in this race.
SANDOWN PARK
Race 1 No4 CHASSERAL (Nap)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: David Probert
CHASSERAL represents a Newmarket maiden that is working out. Third and green when introduced in that contest, she can open her account and state her case as a possible for the Queen Mary.
Race 3 No3 BRAYDEN STAR
Trainer: Roger Charlton – Jockey: Ryan Moore
So impressive was BRAYDEN STAR when putting points on the board at Salisbury that it’s hard to oppose him in this admittedly slightly better race. The colt made a hack out of Teumessias Fox, no mug himself, and will be very hard to beat over this identical trip.
Race 4 No6 REACH FOR THE MOON
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: Frankie Dettori
Although coming into this Heron Stakes off an interrupted preparation that cost him his chance of contesting the Derby, REACH FOR THE MOON can prove a hugely popular winner in the colours of The Queen. The Sea The Stars colt ran one of his best races last year when a wide margin winner of the Group 3 Solario Stakes here, and ended the campaign with a narrow defeat in the Champagne Stakes (Group 2) at Doncaster. If close to that level this evening he will prevail.
CHELMSFORD CITY
Race 1 No6 STREET POET
Trainer: Michael Herrington – Jockey: Richard Kingscote
STREET POET has found some form in taking home cheques on his last two starts. It was around this time last year that he found his niche with back-to-back successes, and from a favourable draw he should again trouble the judge.
Race 3 No3 ASSESSMENT (Nap)
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Richard Kingscote
ASSESSMENT breaks from the rail and under a penalty for his narrow triumph at Yarmouth should prove a worthy favourite. The Kingman colt is highly regarded at Freemason Lodge and is one to follow.
Race 6 No4 BAYSTON HILL
Trainer: Mark Usher – Jockey: Charlie Bennett
Five times course winner BAYSTON HILL might be worth chancing on the back of an improved effort to get into the money here last month. He’s fully tuned for further progress, and at a working man’s price.
Place Accumulater Perm (Races 1-7)
6, 1, 3 x 2 x 3 x 2 x 2, 6, 4 x 4, 3, 7 x 1, 4, 9
R81
