Neil Morrice best bets and tips – Thursday 26 May 2022

HAYDOCK PARK

Race 2 No1 CHICHEN ITZA (Nap)
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Kevin Stott

CHICHEN ITZA a has been working with aplomb and should have no trouble in outclassing her foes. The daughter of Fastnet Rock earned on both starts last year and showed she acts on turf when fourth to stablemate Invigilate at Leicester. She has strengthened up through the winter.

Race 7 No1 AUTUMN FESTIVAL
Trainer: David O’Meara – Jockey: Adam Kirby

With recent figures of 1212 AUTUMN FESTIVAL has maintained a good level of form since returning from a break. He looks far more comfortable racing on grass, and should benefit from a slight drop on the distance ladder.

RIPON

Race 6 No3 KITEFLYER (Nap)
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Richard Kingscote

KITEFLYER and Shining Blue should dominate this novice stakes. Both have winning form to bring to the table, but the year older Shining Blue has to concede a stone to his promising rival, who greatly impressed when scoring at Chepstow, and can follow-up in the colours of The Queen.

YARMOUTH

Race 1 No2 COMMANDMENT (Nap)
Trainer: Ed Dunlop – Jockey: James Doyle

COMMANDMENT can fly the distaffer flag to good effect and endorse the promise of her productive juvenile season in which she placed at Nottingham and Salisbury before opening her account at Hamilton. She should prove too hot for Meydan Rose to handle.

Race 3 No3 BERKSHIRE BREEZE (Each Way)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Harry Davies

BERKSHIRE BREEZE kept on well when headed in the straight to claim a cheque in Secret State’s race at Chester. The Mastercraftsman colt has put in a similarly taking effort behind Natural World at Newbury, and needs to be taken seriously.

CARLISLE

Race 1 No1 DOUBLE O (Nap)
Trainer: David Loughnane – Jockey: PJ McDonald

Loughnane is doing well with the juveniles owned by Amo Racing, and DOUBLE O looks another winner for the company. The Kessaar filly went down fighting on her Doncaster introduction, is more streetwise and should open her account.

Race 5 No5 ALBEGREY
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: Duran Fentiman

ALBEGREY gained a first career success in authoritative fashion at Ripon, beating a horse that had had his measure on his reintroduction at Beverley. The win has served to boost the gelding’s confidence, and he appeals as a value proposition to upstage paper favourite and top weight Discretion.

Race 7 No6 JAMIL
Trainer: Miss T Jackson – Jockey: Phil Dennis

With a hurdles success, a win on the Flat at Catterick and two recent earning runs also on turf JAMIL is the undoubted form horse in the nightcap. His foes are either out of form or returning from lengthy absences, which makes him the safe option.

SANDOWN PARK

Race 3 Coral Henry II Stakes (Group 3)

No5 QUICKTHORN (Nap)
Trainer: Hughie Morrison – Jockey: Tom Marquand

Royal Ascot winner QUICKTHORN has progressed since that Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes success on heavy ground to show that he’s also effective on a quicker surface. That manifested itself on his latest outing when he succumbed only to Princess Zoe in the Group 3 Sagaro Stakes, also at Ascot. With a victory in one of the evening’s features he can book his ticket for a shot at next month’s Group 1 Gold Cup.

Race 4 Coral Brigadier Gerard Stakes (Group 3)

No4 BAY BRIDGE
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Ryan Moore

BAY BRIDGE had an unblemished 2021 campaign but it hasn’t been without incident away from the track this year, as he’s endured minor leg issues. His autumn success over Majestic Dawn in a Listed race on the Rowley Course was boosted when the latter scored at Goodwood last week. His profile is solid, and reflects the type of improver his trainer has excelled with in the past.

Race 6 No9 GRIFFIN PARK (Each Way)
Trainer: Andrew a balding – Jockey: David Probert

The horse named after Brentford’s former stadium can prove an earning entity in a competitive finale. The Elm Park gelding showed he’d gone the right way when opening his account on a first outing of the year at Southwell in February. It might not have been the hottest maiden, but is evidence the selection is on good terms with himself for this first start on grass.

Jackpot Perm (Races 3-6)

5, 1, 2 x 4, 2 x 2, 4, 3 x 9, 10, 4, 8, 2

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