Neil Morrice: UK Best Bets – Thursday 10 September 2020

Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips from Thursday’s racing taking place at Doncaster, Chepstow, and Haydock Park.

DONCASTER

The May Hill features a fascinating match-up between Indigo Girl and ZABEEL QUEEN, the only unbeaten runners putting big home reputations on the line. The hooded Indigo Girl was a clear cut scorer on debut at Yarmouth but perhaps Zabeel Queen’s wide margin York triumph was the stronger. The daughter of Frankel has wowed in her work at home, and can by following up in this gain a foothold in the ante-post market for next year’s 1,000 Guineas.

YAZAMAN would be many a good judge’s idea of a good thing in this if his disappointing run in the Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes is overlooked. Prior to that underwhelming effort, the colt had finished second in a Listed at Ascot, second in a Group 2 at Newmarket, and runner-up in another Group 2 at Goodwood. But he had no answer to the hugely impressive Minzaal at York, being beaten four and three-quarter lengths into sixth. His trainer now replaces blinkers with a first-time visor, and he’s worth risking to bounce back in this Sales race.

The so-called fillies’ St Leger has an open look to it. Striking your pen through any of the names is tempting fate to a degree, and it could be worth looking for value in a race where the straight-eight runners offer three places. Alpinista will probably head the market after chasing home Love in the Yorkshire Oaks, while Believe In Love attempts to complete a nap hand of successes in what is a big class jump. Irish raider Pista is a lightly-raced improver, but at longer odds, VIVIONN could be the one. Her family gets better with age and there was much to like about the way she battled on against Gold Wand in a Listed race at the York Ebor Festival last month, a run that has done her the power of good and hints at improvement.

This is one of the hottest three-year-old only handicaps of the season, but the claims of top weight MILLTOWN STAR outweigh anything else on offer based on the room for improvement in the gelding on only his second outing of the season. Having ended the 2019 campaign with a Listed race triumph in France, he made a belated return to finish fast in fourth behind Cold Stare at Goodwood. That ended up being a sprint finish and served to blow away any cobwebs, evidenced by the way the selection has been working the house down at home.

Frankel colt FABILIS finished in mid-division on a Newbury introduction that begs to be improved upon. He is a well-regarded individual and can exploit any weakness in the hot favourite Il Bandito, with improvement guaranteed on this second start.

Several take the eye in this first division of the sprint but one that could improve now handicapping is SHE STRIDES ON. The Paco Boy filly was never in the hunt when third to stablemate Bring The Money at Bath but did stay on towards the finish in an exercise that provided her with a mark.

VAMOOS paid the price for doing too much from a bad draw in a similar race at Lingfield, capitulating rapidly in the closing stages to be beaten a distance. However, he’s worked well since that second poor run in succession and on the evidence of previous earning runs is far from being a lost cause. To small stakes he’s worth a speculative wager.

Impressive bumper scorer BEHOLDEN handled the switch to the Flat by chasing home Noonday Gun at Catterick, doing his best work at the finish. The former Juddmonte owned gelding faces mainly modest foes in this maiden and at the respective prices is just preferred to By Starlight. The latter was an encouraging fourth on her debut in a Newmarket maiden and will be dangerous getting almost a stone from the selection.

BRING THE MONEY needs to go forward from his high draw to give him the best chance of thwarting potential handicap snip Viva Voce. The latter impressed in the mud when scoring on handicap debut at Redcar, while Bring The Money has his tail up after coming home unchallenged at Bath. That looked a weak affair but he’s in great heart.

A son of upwardly mobile sire Make Believe, RICH DREAM belied his 66-1 starting price with a frame finish in a warm maiden at York, giving out the promise of better to come. He’s bred to appreciate cut in the ground, being out of a German-bred mare, and can get the better of Barney’s Bay.

WIGHTMAN came of age when bolting up off this mark when apprentice ridden at Salisbury last week. He’s effectively thrown in and can strike again in what promises to be a busy period for him over the coming days and weeks.