Neil Morrice brings you all of his best bets and tips for Sunday’s racing coming your way from Hereford, Lingfeild Park and ShaTin.
HEREFORD
Race 2 No1 CHAMPAGNESUPERNOVA
Trainer: Olly Murphy – Jockey: Adrian Heskin
Out to strike while the iron’s hot following his victory at Ayr last week, CHAMPAGNESUPERNOVA makes abundant appeal under a 7lb penalty for a stable that’s been in good form during the early New Year. He’s looked a different horse since undergoing wind surgery and this strong-travelling individual will handle the testing conditions.
Race 6 No1 ZEE MAN (Nap)
Trainer: Olly Murphy – Jockey: Fergus Gregory
ZEE MAN impressed on debut for this stable and on his debut over fences at Fakenham. It might not have been the best race in the world but it showed that the lightly-raced gelding is in the zone and is now living up to his early potential. The top weight’s task is eased by the claim of his very able conditional rider.
LINGFIELD PARK
Race 1 No1 MELGATE MAJEURE
Trainer: Danny Brooke – Jockey: Joanna Mason
On a first visit to this course, MELGATE MEJEURE can back up his decisive Newcastle success from an A1 position on the rail. The gelded son of Lethal Force left his previous all-weather form behind and needs to prove it was no fluke under top weight with a new pilot in the saddle.
Race 2 No10 BLAIRLOGIE (Each Way)
Trainer: Laura Morgan – Jockey: Callum Hutchinson
Although disappointing at Kempton last time, BLAIRLOGIE remains a horse that could pop up at a fancy price. His operation has been confined to the all-weather since joining his trainer last autumn, and I suspect he can find an opportunity soon..
Race 7 No6 TOUCHWOOD
Trainer: Charlie Hills – Jockey: Tom Marquand
Invincible Spirit colt TOUCHWOOD can play the experience card to good effect in this novice stakes by lowering 5he colours of recent scorer The Hulk. He hit the crossbar when well supported on each of his final starts of 2020 at this course and Kempton, and can now go one better.
SHA TIN
Race 5 THE CENTENARY SPRINT CUP (Group 1)
Last month’s Hong Kong Sprint fourth WISHFUL THINKER sets the standard and will surely play an earning role from his plum draw, but in an equally good spot at the gate is HOT KING PRAWN who is preferred. The grey has the beating of COMPUTER PATCH on course and distance running in the November trial but experienced a rare off day at the International meeting from which he needs to bounce back to notch what has proved an elusive first Group 1 triumph.
Prediction: 1st HOT KING PRAWN, 2nd Computer Patch, 3rd Wishful Thinker
Race 7 THE STEWARDS’ CUP (Group 1)
GOLDEN SIXTY is the outstanding horse in the old colony and confidently expected to extend his winning sequence to a dozen in this historic race. The Australian-bred gelding is meeting foes that have already vainly chased his shadow, including SOUTHERN LEGEND and KA YING STAR. The former was readily put in his place at the business end of the Hong Kong Mile while Ka Ying Star has even more of a mountain to climb against the Francis Lui-trained champion who beat him more than 11 lengths in the same race. If there’s a joker in the pack then RISE HIGH could be the one. The Caspar Fownes-trained contender was a major force before going onto the injury injury list but has wowed in his recent barrier trials.
Prediction: 1st GOLDEN SIXTY, 2nd Rise High, 3rd Southern Legend.
Race 8 The Hong Kong Classic Mile
The first leg of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series can fall to ENRICH DELIGHT, who forms part of a strong Fownes attack on the contest with stablemate SKY DARCI also a major player. The pair respectively have Soumillon and Moreira doing the navigation and it would be no surprise to see them both take home a cheque. However the lightly-raced Enrich Delight has by far the better draw, positioned two off the fence, while the progressive TOURBILLON DIAMOND is also posted wide. From a better spot, SHADOW HERO can get get into the shake-up.
Prediction: 1st ENRICH DELIGHT, 2nd Sky Darci, 3rd Shadow Hero
