Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips from Thursday’s racing taking place at Salisbury, Chelmsford City, Haydock Park, and Southwell.
SALISBURY
Race 2: No6 – WIGHTMAN
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: George Bass
Without managing to live up to the promise shown on his debut here last summer, WIGHTMAN has plenty going for him in this apprentice’s handicap following three straight frame finishes. The last of those came in an amateur riders’ race over course and distance last month. He pleased in a mixed gallop earlier in the week and should be involved.
Race 4: No7 – LIGHT REFRAIN (Nap)
Trainer: William Haggas – Jockey: Tom Marquand
A twice-raced Frankel filly taking on 13 newcomers, it looks a safe option to back her to open her account for a trainer that excels with his runners in maidens here. The selection attracted plenty of interest in the market before finishing fourth to Nazuna in a warm heat at Doncaster, a run that should have readied her for this.
Race 5: SHADWELL DICK POOLE STAKES (Group 3)
No8 – ILLYKATO (Nap)
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Charles Bishop
ILLYKATO is a sharp individual and will need to be to land the day’s feature, a race that contains no fewer than 12 previous winners. The daughter of Toronado went close to defying odds of 25-1 on debut at Goodwood and then made no mistake as a short-priced favourite at Windsor, pulling clear of her field along with runner-up Flirty Rascal. She’s looked lively in her work on grass over the past couple of weeks and has a good chance of getting into the money at the least.
CHELMSFORD CITY
Race 2: No5 – BAYSTON HILL (Each Way)
Trainer: Mark Usher – Jockey: Daniel Muscutt
You have to look back 18 months to find BAYSTON HILL’s last success, but that happened at this course and the gelding looked like he is on the brink of a revival when third to Derry Boy at Bath last month. Most of the other runners are out of form, giving the selection a good chance of being in the shake-up.
Race 3: No6 – PITCHER’S POINT
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: Frankie Dettori
PITCHER’S POINT stands out in this all-aged handicap after skipping an opportunity last week. He hasn’t been seen since breaking his maiden at Lingfield last March and has up to now raced exclusively on the all-weather.
HAYDOCK PARK
Race 5: No3 – SUN BEAR (Nap)
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: Rab Havlin
SUN BEAR goes down the handicap route off a mark of 82 in this fillies’ only contest. Having blotted her copybook when odds-on at Kempton in early June she returned freshened from a break to show her true colours with a decisive victory in a Windsor maiden. She faces a filly on fire in the shape of Alpine Mistral but can put paid to that rival.
Race 6: No6 – COCONUT
Trainer: Ed Walker – Jockey: Jim Crowley
COCONUT takes the eye getting plenty of weight from her five foes on her first run in a handicap. She decisively got off the mark in a Newbury maiden when a further step up in distance played to her strengths. The daughter of Australia remains at a mile and a half and can prevent fellow three-year-old Without A Fight from completing a hat-trick.
SOUTHWELL
Race 1: No5 – WISECRACKER
Trainer: Ben Case – Jockey: Bryony Frost
WISECRACKER blotted his copybook when unseating Frost at Fontwell last time, having run well in three other handicap chases on the summer circuit. That was an uncharacteristic spill, from which the normal sound jumper can bounce back.
Race 6: No7 – UNEXPECTED PARTY
Trainer: Dan Skelton – Jockey: Harry Skelton
Skelton does well with French-breds like UNEXPECTED PARTY who is the subject of favourable reports from the gallops for this debut in a maiden hurdle. The grey is beautifully-bred for the winter game and should have too many guns for fellow newcomer Hasanabad.
Race 7: No5 – LEROY LEROY (Nap)
Trainer: Jim Boyle – Jockey: Robbie Dunne
LEROY LEROY has the points on the board in this second division of the maiden hurdle following two near misses, including over this course and distance last time. Dunne’s been in the hot seat on each occasion and can now steer his mount to a deserved first triumph.
