Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips from Thursday’s racing taking place at Ayr, Yarmouth, Chelmsford City, and Pontefract.
AYR
Race 1: No1 – NORTHERN EXPRESS (Nap)
Trainer: Michael Dods – Jockey: Paul Mulrennan
NORTHERN EXPRESS showed good track craft for an inexperienced horse when wearing down Il Bandito on his debut at Beverley. He now negotiates a bend going the other way round under his penalty but has sufficient scope for progression to make a good fist of following-up.
Ace 8: No10 – CORMIER
Trainer: Brian Ellison – Jockey: Ben Robinson
CORMIER has been well backed on each of his last three outings, showing a liking for the tight Catterick turns with two wins and a second at that course through August and early September. The gelding now engages new territory on completely different terrain but is in rude health and more than capable of making an impact for a trainer that excels with this type of staying prospect.
YARMOUTH
Race 1: No3 – CRYSTAL PEGASUS
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Ryan Moore
This begs to go to one of the three-year-olds, with CRYSTAL PEGASUS getting the nod over Nasraawy. The selection was the proverbial penalty kick when opening his account at Bath but that wide margin triumph has given the close relative to top-class Crystal Ocean a needed confidence boost.
Race 2: No3 – C’EST NO MOUR (Nap)
Trainer: Simon Hodgson – Jockey: Tom Marquand
Hodgson has done well with C’EST NO MOUR since the retirement of the gelding’s previous trainer Peter Hedger, sending out the gelding to score at Salisbury and Goodwood and place in his other two outings. While in the form of his life, he will need to be in similar mood to take out this Class 2, but he can do.
CHELMSFORD CITY
Race 4: No6 – EXTRODINAIR (Nap)
Trainer: Jane Chapple-Hyam – Jockey: David Probert
EXTRODINAIR has come of age this year, adding with two successes here to his previous win at the track last autumn. He returned from five months off to gamely hold Cry Havoc at the end of last month and will be even sharper with that under his belt.
Race 5: No2 – FIRST TARGET
Trainer: Saeed Bin Suroor – Jockey: Callum Shepherd
Those with previous form in this novice don’t look anything special, leaving the door open for newcomer FIRST TARGET to take advantage. The Showcasing colt has been a late developer, but based on some encouraging work might prove too hot for Khaalis to handle.
PONTEFRACT
Race 1: No7 – SIR MAXI
Trainer: Ralph Beckett – Jockey: Rossa Ryan
SIR MAXI holds the cards in this novice following an eye taking first run at Windsor. Connections are out to strike quickly after that second to runaway scorer Operatic, a move made possible by the fact that the son of Adaay didn’t have a hard race and has taken it all in his stride.
Race 7: No4 – OPERA GIFT
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Rob Hornby
The beautifully-bred OPERA GIFT is sure to have learned bundles from his earning debut run at Salisbury at Goodwood when fourth to John Locke. The son of Nathaniel and Opera Glass faces strong competition from Duck And Vanish, while Seagulls Nest is well regarded and is one to include in exactas.
Race 4: No1 – VILLE DE GRACE (Nap)
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Ryan Moore
VILLE DE GRACE looked exciting on her Kempton introduction, putting the race to bed with a telling turn of foot. The daughter of popular sire Le Havre has done everything right at home in preparation for an autumn campaign and is strongly fancied to remain unbeaten.
