Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Thursday's racing coming your way from Salisbury, Haydock Park, Lingfield Park, Newbury and Wolverhampton on 5 September 2024.
SALISBURY
Race 1 No8 DOUBLE RED (Each Way)
Trainer: Henry Candy – Jockey: Jay Mackay
DOUBLE RED should give us a good run for our money in this apprentices’ handicap. The grey skipped a good opportunity last week and might have been found a more straightforward assignment granted his encouraging run to chase home runaway winner Typical Woman at Newbury last month.
Race 3 No8 SILVER GHOST
Trainer: Emma Lavelle – Jockey: David Probert
SILVER GHOST hails from a predominantly jumps-biased stable but has the credentials to win this. The Phoenix Of Spain filly has improved from race to race, and if posting a run as good as either of her recent near-misses at Newmarket should open her account.
Race 4 IRE-Incentive It Pays To Buy Irish Dick Poole Fillies’ Stakes (Group 3)
No9 TABITI (Nap)
Trainer: Ralph Beckett – Jockey: Ryan Moore
It’s good to see the traditional highlight of this meeting being well supported by trainers from both Lambourn and Newmarket. I fancy the winner will come from one of the three unbeaten candidates, with TABITI preferred to JEWELRY and TROIA. TABITI created a very favourable impression when delivering at the first time of asking at Newbury in July. She makes just a short journey here from Beckett’s Kimpton base, and with Moore an eye-taking booking can remain unbeaten.
Race 6 No1 GLOUCESTERSHIRE (Each Way)
Trainer: Martyn Meade – Jockey: Tom Marquand
GLOUCESTERSHIRE shoulders a welter burden in this, but has the class to see off his rivals. After a brief period with Richard Hannon, he’s back with his original trainer for whom he now engages in a first run in a year. The selection brings consistently good form at Class3 level to the table and with few miles on his racing clock is capable of improvement, even as a six-year-old.
Race 7 No7 CRYSTAL MARINER (Each Way)
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Ryan Moore
With the benefit of a breathing operation CRYSTAL MARINER initially showed little improvement, although when equipped with a visor at Doncaster he put in a seasonal best to chase home Naaey. The chestnut is another horse that can prosper with Moore returned to his saddle.
HAYDOCK PARK
Race 2 No2 BOSTON RUN
Trainer: Hugo Palmer – Jockey: Jason Hart
BOSTON RUN should be fully primed to get off the mark after a couple of good runs in defeat. The Churchill colt ran into one against runaway scorer Castle Stuart at Hamilton but it’s unlikely there’s a horse of that ilk in opposition today, and he should deliver. It could be worth monitoring KIRKDALE for market interest, as he’s well-regarded but will probably need the run on debut.
Race 5 No4 DOUBLE RUSH (Nap)
Trainer: Charlie Hills – Jockey: Hayley Turner
DOUBLE RUSH started an unconsidered 22-1 shot when chasing home Midnight Thunder on his Windsor introduction. The son of Blue Point has learned much from that experience and can now down a couple of equally well-regarded foes in Defence Minister and Arabian Angel.
Race 6 No2 NAAEY
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: Kieran Shoemark
NAAEY will hopefully provide a boost with a good run here to the claims of Crystal Mariner at Salisbury. The pair dominated their race at Doncaster, and my selection, a daughter of Lope De Vega, has the scope from a select campaign in 2024 to win again.
LINGFIELD PARK
Race 4 No4 GILET (Nap)
Trainer: Warren Greatrex – Jockey: Charles Bishop
GILET looks an uncomplicated answer to this restricted maiden other than the fact that the Coulsty gelding has an outer draw to deal with. Providing he obtains a clean break from the gate and gets across he should make it third time lucky for his popular trainer.
Race 6 No8 SURREY FIRE
Trainer: Hughie Morrison – Jockey: Charles Bishop
Bishop has a good book of rides and can be on target again with the lightly-raced SURREY FIRE. The selection made a winning first visit to this course at the end of July and should enjoy returning to a mile and a half for this handicap bow, as he’s a stoutly bred son of Derby winner Masar.
NEWBURY
Race 4 No8 BOY GEORGE (Nap)
Trainer: Dominic Ffrench Davis – Jockey: Liam Keniry
BOY GEORGE has looked a different horse this season, with authoritative triumphs at Bath and Windsor. He’s developed a fine understanding with veteran Keniry, and though higher in the weights and up a notch on the class ladder can complete a fine hat-trick.
Race 7 No9 ARNAZ
TrainerM Ed Walker – Jockey: Billy Loughnane
This stable is going through a hot streak and ARNAZ can add to its laurels under the emergent Loughnane. The Havana Grey gelding hasn’t done much wrong since opening his account at Brighton and taken home a cheque on his last three starts including when narrowly denied at Nottingham last time. This is the first time Loughnane has ridden him since his debut.
WOLVERHAMPTON
Race 6 No2 FORAGER (Nap)
Trainer: Simon Pearce – Jockey: Tyler Heard
FORAGER has been a progressive flagship for her trainer, and following a first success at Beverley looks the type that can flourish just as much in handicaps. The Showcasing filly rates the only bet on this tricky card for betting, as she’s strongly fancied to follow up.
Place Accumulator Perm (Races 2-8)
1 x 8 x 3, 6 x 1, 8, 3 x 2 x 5, 1, 2 x 9, 2, 6 x 4, 1, 6
R162
