Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips from Thursday’s racing taking place at Pontefract, Sandown Park, & Uttoxeter.
PONTEFRACT
Race 1: No7 – ZAMAN JAMEEL
Trainer: Kevin Ryan – Jockey: Tom Eaves
The beautifully-bred ZAMAN JAMEEL shaped promisingly in a good race at York on debut, a run that should bring him on several lengths. He finished just over five lengths behind Muker, who is considered one of the fastest juveniles in training. He has a good draw from which to attack and should know too much for newcomers Politics and Regional.
Race 4: No2 – DARK VISION
Trainer: Mark Johnston – Jockey: James Doyle
With a Group 2 triumph to his name and three huge runs in top handicaps in as many starts this year, DARK VISION sets the standard for the others to aim at as he moves into Listed company. The former Vintage Stakes winner couldn’t quite cut the mustard in his three-year-old campaign but has looked a much-improved horse for a trainer that is saddling an abundance of winners.
Race 5: No5 – HEAVEN FORFEND (Nap)
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Jim Crowley
By Frankel out of a Group winning mare, HEAVEN FORFEND is going to be a short-priced favourite to take out this maiden but it’s impossible to oppose him. Last year he finished sixth in the Chesham Stakes behind Pinatubo, while on his 2020 reappearance he couldn’t resist the improved Taawfan at Windsor. With a pedigree that suggests he would appreciate some dig in the ground, he is one to follow through the late summer and autumn.
Race 6: No9 – GORDANA
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Martin Harley
GORDANA showed nothing on her first two starts but improved to finish just out of the money in a better race than this at Newbury. She faces a stern rival in Naked Lass who has placed in both starts but should represent value, especially if the forecast rain arrives.
SANDOWN PARK
Race 2: No13 – THUNDER SUN
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Ryan Moore
Most of the top stables are represented in this interesting maiden in which only three horses have public form. Of those, Forest Falcon and Third Kingdom need respecting, but THUNDER SUN has shown sufficient promise at home to get the vote. He has a better draw than his rivals.
Race 3: No6 – AMERICAN ENTENTE (Nap)
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: Rab Havlin
Easy to back on her debut in what looked a decent heat at Salisbury, AMERICAN ENTENTE shaped well to make a frame finish behind Tinker Toy. The daughter of War Front gets 5lb from paper favourite Derdas and can open her account.
Race 7: No4 – MAIDEN CASTLE (Each Way)
Trainer: Henry Candy – Jockey: Adam Kirby
MAIDEN CASTLE saw plenty of daylight and faded right out of it at Windsor but if that poor effort can be forgiven the gelding has a chance to redeem himself in this competitive handicap. He’s a lightly raced individual with scope for progression, and having found the going quicker than ideal last time will appreciate the forecast rain.
UTTOXETER
Race 1: No4 – HUNTING PERCIVAL
Trainer: Tom Lacey – Jockey: Johnathan Burke
Course and distance winner Timoshenko is respected in this novices’ hurdle but could find the concession of 7lb to HUNTING PERCIVAL a tall order. The latter smoothly took out a Wincanton bumper on debut at Wincanton before finishing third to the well regarded Allart on jumps debut at Ludlow. He’s both worked and schooled in pleasing style ahead of this return.
Race 6: No2 – MONSIEUR GIBRALTAR (Nap)
Trainer: Paul Nicholls – Jockey: Mr. David Maxwell
MONSIEUR GIBRALTAR makes a fascinating return to the Nicholls yard and should give his intrepid owner plenty to shout about over fences this season. The combination ran up a four-race winning sequence between February and May last year when returned odds-on on each occasion. Having moved back to Ditcheat from Rose Loxton he is fit and firing for this first run in 14 months.
