Neil Morrice brings us his best bets and tips for Wednesday’s racing at Nottingham, Ascot, Bath and Punchestown.
Nottingham Best Bets
Race 4: ILLETYOUGONOW (6)
Trainer: Mick Channon
Jockey: William Buick
Bated Breath filly ILLETYOUGONOW steps up from sprinting to a mile for her seasonal return and could be attractively weighted. She’s done everything right in her preparation for this and Buick is an eye-catching jockey booking.
Race 6: PATCHOULI (2)
Trainer: Mick Channon
Jockey: Scott McCullough
A stablemate of Illetyougonow, PATCHOULI failed to get home over a mile and a half on her all-weather return and will appreciate both coming back to a mile and a quarter and returning to turf.
Ascot Best Bets
Race 4 No6 DEE EX BEE
Trainer: Mark Johnston
Jockey: William Buick
Hard to imagine a colt with the talent of DEE EX BEE went through the 2018 campaign winless but he has plenty of time to make up for that lost time and can make his mark in Cup races this summer. The gigantic colt finished fourth in the St Leger as well as running well in the Dante Stakes and the Derby. But he was a very successful 2yo and can show he hasn’t forgotten how to win.
Race 5: BARNEY ROY (4)
Trainer: Charlie Appleby
Jockey: William Buick
Returning to the track as a gelding after proving infertile at stud, BARNEY ROY would readily sweep these aside if anywhere near as good as when winning the St James’s Palace Stakes here two weeks ago. He has a more than 550-day absence to defy but his in-form trainer reckons he’s more than ready to show his prowess in this Listed affair.
Bath Best Bets
Race 2: BARTAT (5)
Trainer: Mick Channon
Jockey: George Downing
With specialist 2yo trainers such as Archie Watson and David Evans represented this isn’t the easiest of tasks for BARTAT but her greater experience gained from two frame finishes can stand her in good stead for the Channon yard. She was beaten by a long way on the latest of those at Newmarket but now encounters a class drop.
Race 5: BAYSHORE FREEWAY (3)
Trainer: Mark Johnston
Jockey: Franny Norton
Johnston runners here always command the greatest respect and the ultra-consistent BAYSHORE FREEWAY will be hard to peg back from the easy lead he looks destined to obtain. There was much to like about the way the selection shaped on his seasonal reappearance and the way he finished indicates the step up to two and three-quarter miles will be beneficial.
Punchestown Best Bets
Race 5: KEMBOY (4)
Trainer: Willie Mullins
Jockey: Ruby Walsh
With his disastrous first fence exit from the Magners Gold Cup a fading memory, KEMBOY can demonstrate how dangerous he would have been to Al Boum Photo had he stood up. The Nap absolutely bolted up in the Aintree Bowl, beating Clan Des Obeaux by nine lengths with Bristol De Mai well beaten off, and comes here fresher than most in this field. If in the same vein of form as at Aintree he will be hard to beat.
Race 7: CLASS CONTI (2)
Trainer: Willie Mullins
Jockey: Paul Townend
CLASS CONTI might encounter different ground conditions than the bog in which he successfully returned at Tramore but there was so much to like about the way he got the job done that he must be backed to follow up. The 11-4 favourite could be named the winner some way out to give the impression he still finds himself on an attractive mark.
