Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing coming your way from Cheltenham, Newbury, and Doncaster, including video analysis.
CHELTENHAM
Race 4: No8 – MANOFTHEMOUNTAIN (Nap)
Trainer: Emma Lavelle – Jockey: Adam Wedge
Apart from when unseating at Taunton around this time last year, MANOFTHEMOUNTAIN delivered a clean sheet last season and started where he left off with a smooth comeback triumph at Bangor. The seven-year-old is now pitched into a much more competitive race, but as a young and progressive chaser, he can take the step up in his stride.
Race 6: No10 – JEN’S BOY
Trainer: Nicky Henderson – Jockey: Mr S Waley-Cohen
JEN’S BOY can end a run of four second-place finishes with an overdue win in this competitive amateur riders’ handicap chase. Since putting together back-to-back successes when equipped with cheek-pieces last summer, the selection has earned in each of his subsequent five starts and is now tried in blinkers. He is very fit after his recent exertions and has the most experienced pilot in the race on his back.
Race 7: No2 – MAJOR ROBINSON
Trainer: David Pipe – Jockey: Tom Scudamore
Several of the candidates for the concluding bumper carry tall home reputations, but none more so than MAJOR ROBINSON who exchanged hands for a sizeable amount after landing a Thurles bumper on his only start in Ireland. The son of Kalanisi loves to get his toe into the ground and if reproducing the standard shown in his homework looks sure to be in the mix, in spite of his penalty.
NEWBURY
Race 3: No6 – LOVE IS YOU (Nap)
Trainer: Roger Charlton – Jockey: Jason Watson
By Kingman out of Group 1 winner Fallen For You, LOVE IS YOU has already started to live up to the high expectations her pedigree demands. She won narrowly without being given a hard race on debut at Ascot, and shouldn’t mind the very deep conditions that lie in wait for her. This is a step up in class into a Listed, but she’s ready to put her best foot forward.
Race 4: Molson Coors Beverage Company Stakes (Horris Hill Stakes) (Group 3)
No8 – NASTASE (Each Way)
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: David Probert
With bottomless conditions a distinct possibility, NASTASE will have more weaponry than most to produce his best form. The Sixties Icon colt posted a 25-1 shocker in a Listed race at York and is going to enjoy the step up to seven furlongs under the same jockey. He faces strong opposition from Laneqash and Percy’s Lad but is a better value option.
Race 5: Pravha Stakes (St Simon Stakes) (Group 3)
No7 – KIPPS
Trainer: Hughie Morrison – Jockey: Hollie Doyle
The mercurial KIPPS can benefit from the female touch to spring a surprise in a race that remembers the legendary St Simon. The grey has frequently promised to deliver in big handicaps only to fall short but gives the impression he can mix it at this higher level. He’s a strong traveler, and in a race that cries out for an upset can provide just that.
DONCASTER
Race 1: No1 – LAAFY (Nap)
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Ryan Moore
Now returned to handicap company, LAAFY should prove very hard to beat in the Town Moor opener. The top weight deserves that burden after his success in easy conditions at Ascot and third behind Walton Street in a Listed race at Newmarket. He’s also won in heavy ground, making underfoot conditions a boon rather than a concern.
Race 2: No3 – JUST FRANK
Trainer: Les Eyre – Jockey: Lewis Edmunds
Veteran trainer Eyre has an exciting prospect in JUST FRANK, who turned what looked a competitive Sales race at Newmarket into a procession three weeks ago. The gelding relished the cut in the ground to score by four and a half lengths and on that evidence has to be taken seriously on this step into Listed company.
Race 4: Vertem Futurity Trophy Stakes (Group 1)
No9 – WEMBLEY
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien – Jockey: Ryan Moore
O’Brien has harvested this over the years with his haul achieved by greats such as High Chaparral, Camelot, and St Nicholas Abbey. In WEMBLEY he has a contender that will do well to aspire to those lofty heights, but it’s surely significant that the son of Galileo is his only runner, selected from seven Ballydoyle inmates at the five-day confirmation stage. Although boasting a sole success in six tries at Roscommon, Wembley has finished second in two subsequent Group 1s, and if running as well as he did against stablemate St Mark’s Basilica in the Dewhurst should prove very hard to beat.
