Neil Morrice best bets and tips – Wednesday 11 May 2022

YORK

Race 1 No5 JUST FINE (Each Way)
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Ryan Moore

Should rain arrive it will favour Sam Cooke, who scored at the August meeting here last season. However, one that takes the eye in the colours of The Queen is JUST FINE. The Sea The Stars gelding numbered a Sandown success and placed efforts in Class2 contests at GOODWOOD and Salisbury in his final three races of 2021. The enthusiastic way he’s been working suggests he will not be inconvenienced by a seven-month absence.

Race 3 1895 Duke Of York Clipper Logistics Stakes (Group 2)

No11 VADREAM (Each Way)
Trainer: Charlie Fellowes – Jockey: Danny Tudhope

VADREAM needs to improve to triumph in a Group 2, but this isn’t the strongest Duke Of Yorks i’ve ever seen, and there’s a good chance she can. The Brazen Beau filly gamely took out a Group 3 at Ascot in the autumn and was not disgraced when just out of the money in the Group 1 Champions Sprint at Ascot. She’s another that will benefit if it rains.

Race 4 Tattersalls Musidora Stakes (Group 3)

No3 LIFE OF DREAMS (Nap)
Trainer; Charlie Appleby – Jockey: William Buick

Emily Upjohn and LIFE OF DREAMS will dominate the market for this Oaks trial, with preference for the Godolphin-owned latter. The Dubawi filly absolutely hacked up on debut in a Newbury maiden, and while the horse she beat did nothing for the form last weekend, she has the potential to give unbeaten Emily Upjohn plenty to think about.

NEWTON ABBOT

Race 1 No4 JEAN GENIE
Trainer: Tim Vaughan – Jockey: Alan Johns

The grey JEAN GENIE deserves to open his account following a string of near-misses, and may be more reliable than market rival Gaulois. He finished off his race well when returning to hurdles from fences and chasing home Sporting Ace at Warwick.

Race 6 No1 ROSY REDRUM (Nap)
Trainer: Milton Harris – Jockey: Mitchell Bastyan

ROSY REDRUM is underwhelmed in a first time hood at Aintree but now finds herself taking a pronounced class drop. The Wincanton scorer and Newbury second should overpower her foes as long as the retained hood helps rather than hinders.

WORCESTER

Race 2 No2 JOHNNY B (Nap)
Trainer: Chris Down – Jockey: James Davies

JOHNNY B’s jockey was able to take it easy at the end of his recent first win over fences at Chepstow, and could be in for another armchair ride on the eight-year-old, who has taken those exertions in his stride and can follow up.

Race 5 No4 NO NO MAESTRO
Trainer: Fergal O’Brien – Jockey: Paddy Brennan

High Stakes hails from a stable struggling to get into a rhythm and may be worth opposing with multiple scorer NO NO MAESTRO. The latter has it to do with his rival on the ratings, but was at least in imperious form last autumn, and shouldn’t mind coming back fresh to try to exploit his novice status over hurdles.

PERTH

Race 7 No7 CLIFFS OF DOONEEN (Nap)
Trainer: Rose Dobbin – Jockey: Edward Austin

This is a tough card on which CLIFFS OF DOONEEN can hopefully prove a jewel in the nightcap. As the least experienced candidate, he could have plenty more to give, and it was sheer willingness that saw him safe home on a first handicap venture at Carlisle last month.

BATH

Race 2 No3 RUMSTAR
Trainer: Jonny Portman – Jockey: David Probert

Havana Grey colt RUMSTAR ran into the smart Dunnington Lad on debut at Windsor. Beaten in a photo, he is likely to be more professional with the run under his belt, and will be hard to beat.

Race 3 No1 OUR JESTER (Nap)
Trainer: Hughie Morrison – Jockey: David Probert

Savvy Knight is carded to go off odds-on for this novice stakes but is worth taking on with OUR JESTER. The selection wasn’t far behind the best bumper horses in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham, and with his high cruising speed and turn of foot could make a real deal of going down the Flat route.

Race 6 No7 SISTERANDBROTHER (Each Way)
Trainer: Milton Harris – Jockey: Pat Dobbs

SISTERANDBROTHER probably has a better chance than his form on debut for a trainer in the ascent. He twice went close to opening his account on turf last summer, and with just eight races under his belt still has room for progression on first run in almost eight m9nths.

Place Accumulater Perm (Races 1-7)

1, 5 x 3 x 1 x 3 x 2, 1, 6 x 7, 5, 9, 2 x 2, 3

R72