Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing coming your way from the Singapore Gold Cup (including video analysis), Haydock Park, Ascot, Huntingdon, Lingfield Park, and Wolverhampton.
SINGAPORE GOLD CUP
Singapore’s most prestigious race may well happen behind close doors but the Kranji track is certain to host a locally-trained winner, with trainers Lee Freedman and Michael Clements responsible for a large proportion of the final field.
Freedman looks to repeat his 2019 triumph with a quartet headed by the winner then MR CLINT. The six-year-old importantly looks to be nearing his peak following a solid effort in the QEII Cup. That form makes him the class element in the contest.
SUN MARSHAL, MINISTER, and OCEAN CROSSING comprise the remainder of the Australian’s challenge while Clements, seeking a first triumph in the contest, saddles two of the front runners in the betting courtesy of TOP KNIGHT and BIG HEARTED.
Top Knight is burdened with top weight and that means he has to beat the history books, but Big Hearted is beautifully placed on 50kg and looks an almost certain earner for his Zimbabwean handler.
The Singapore Derby and QEII Cup winner has 57kg to shoulder but will be dangerous if getting a fast early pace that will ensure he’s doing all his best work at the business end.
He has to overcome a wide draw which is far from ideal, but if getting a nice slot down the back can swoop to conquer in the straight.
Another to put in the mix is the Shane Baertschinger-trained ARAMAAYO who is largely responsible for his handler’s stellar season at Kranji.
Prediction
1st BIG HEARTED
2nd Top Knight
3rd Mr Clint
4th Aramaayo
5th Minister
HAYDOCK PARK
Race 3: No4 – MASTER TOMMYTUCKER
Trainer: Paul Nicholls – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
With two completions in as many starts this season, MASTER TOMMYTUCKER appears to have got the jumping monkey off his back that saw him fail to get round in two of his three outings last term. His form is rock solid, numbering a wide margin triumph at Huntingdon that followed a creditable second to Al Dancer at Newton Abbot. Al Dancer’s earning run in the PaddyPower Gold Cup boosts that form and makes the nine-year-old the one to beat.
Race 5: No4 – MAIN FACT
Trainer: David Pipe – Jockey: Fergus Gregory
Boasting a jaw-dropping record of eight straight wins on the Flat and over hurdles, MAIN FACT is of considerable interest on this return to jumps for a trainer whose horses are in very good order. The selection has only incurred one defeat since his move to Pond House, and with his tail up can take this step up the class ladder in his stride under a penalty.
Race 6: BETFAIR CHASE (Grade 1)
No5 – LOSTINTRANSLATION (Nap)
Trainer: Colin Tizzard – Jockey: Robbie Power
Apart from one blip in Kempton’s King George VI Chase on a track that wouldn’t play to his strengths, LOSTINTRANSLATION did nothing wrong when moved into the big time last season. He jumped brilliantly when accounting for BRISTOL DE MAI in this race and went down with all guns blazing when third to AL BOOM PHOTO in the Gold Cup. At the age of eight, he still has the world at his feet and can take this initial test in his stride in what can prove a carbon copy of the 2019 finish. Bristol De Mai had landed the 2017 and 2018 runnings of the Betfair and is very effective at this course. Add to that his excellent record when returning fresh from a break and he looms as a stronger opponent to Lostintranslation than CLAN DES OBEAUX. The latter has been a rare visitor to the racecourse over the last 12 months, and though he is a tip-top performer on park courses like Kempton and Ascot, he couldn’t cut the mustard in the Gold Cup when well behind Lostintranslation. Today’s field is completed by BELLSHILL and KEEPER HILL who appear totally outclassed.
Prediction
1st LOSTINTRANSLATION
2nd Bristol De Mai
3rd Clan Des Obeaux
ASCOT
Race 1: No2 – SOUTHFIELD HARVEST (Nap)
Trainer: Paul Nicholls – Jockey: Harry Cobden
SOUTHFIELD HARVEST is one of the most well-regarded novices at Ditcheat and strongly fancied to take out this staying contest on the way to better things. He did nothing wrong in landing a bumper and maiden hurdle from only four starts last season and has done exceptionally well through the summer.
Race 2: No1 – YOUNG BULL (Each Way)
Trainer: Harry Whittington – Jockey: David Bass
YOUNG BULL moves up the distance ladder and could be the answer to an ultra-competitive novices’ limited handicap chase. He will enjoy the cut in the ground and needs to jump as well as on comeback at Uttoxeter where he finished a seven and a half lengths third to the reopposing Demachine. It won’t be easy trying to give away weight all round, but he meets his conqueror on better terms and will be fitter now.
Race 6: No4 – FIRST FLOW
Trainer: Kim Bailey – Jockey: David Bass
While yet to show that Ascot is his preferred track, FIRST FLOW has a good opportunity to dominate this cracking contest and take up from where he left off before lockdown in March. Although beaten here on two occasions, he really got his act together by taking out races at Leicester, Doncaster, and Carlisle to give his confidence a considerable boost. Admittedly they were straightforward assignments that he was fully expected to win, but if coming back near his best he can account for Amoola Gold and Capeland.
HUNTINGDON
Race 2: No4 – GLORY AND HONOUR (Nap)
Trainer: Tom Lacey – Jockey: Jonathan Burke
GLORY AND HONOUR was attempting the impossible taking on a very highly regarded foe in Isolate at Taunton, but to his credit made a race of it by going down by three and a half lengths. The performance endorsed the promise of his second on debut in an Exeter bumper, and if repeated would see him in the winner’s circle for the first time.
Race 3: No1 – MIDNIGHTREFERENDUM
Trainer: Alan King – Jockey: Thomas Bellamy
MIDNIGHTREFERENDUM impressed on chase debut at Fontwell to win by a wide margin, and her trainer looks to have found the right race for her to build on the way to better things. She carries a 6lb penalty against a dangerous-looking rival in Momella but should be up to the task at hand.
LINGFIELD PARK
Race 7: No4 – SHEILA (Nap)
Trainer: Hugo Palmer – Jockey: Ray Dawson
The beautifully-named SHEILA (who is by Australia out of a Docksider mare) is one of the least experienced candidates for this first division of the mile and a quarter handicap but has the best form. Well supported on both starts since returning from a short break, she opened her account at Chelmsford and made a good fist of successfully following-up at the Essex venue. If overcoming a high draw she can regain the winning thread.
WOLVERHAMPTON
Race 9: No1 – GOWANLAD (Nap)
Trainer: Phil Kirby – Jockey: Phil Dennis
Leaving the best until last looks the order of the evening at Dunstall Park where GOWANLAD is perfectly drawn for a big run. He accounted for a reliable yardstick in Roundel at Newcastle on first start in exactly eleven months and is of serious interest now going down the handicap route.
