Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Friday’s racing at Sandown, Haydock and Doncaster.
Sandown Park Best Bets
Race 2: LIBERTY BEACH (10)
Trainer: John Quinn
Jockey: Jason Hart
The stiff five furlongs of this Listed prize is going to play to the strengths of the filly LIBERTY BEACH who while also having ground conditions in her favour can bring the best form to the table. She impressed in her first two winning starts including the Hilary Needler Trophy at Beverley, before ‘winning’ her Group on the far side in the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot. Ultimately fourth of 25 to Raffle Prize, that effort stamps her as better than the juveniles she takes on here.
Race 3: RIOT (5)
Trainer: John Gosden
Jockey: Oisin Murphy
Some fingers were burned on RIOT when he was beaten in a photo here on his debut, but the colt is in the kind of buoyant form to get the losses back with interest. In that four-runner field he lost ground at the start before ruining his chance by hanging in the final furlong, without which he would have won. Additionally he’s been working the house down in subsequent gallops.
Haydock Park Best Bets
Race 4: LOLA PAIGE (5)
Trainer: William Haggas
Jockey: Paul Hanagan
The benefit of having had a previous run ought to stand LOLA PAIGE in good stead in this warm looking novice stakes. She displayed a good attitude on her Doncaster introduction when finding only Sacred Dance too strong and has given every indication at home that the experience has done her the world of good.
Race 5: IFTON (5)
Trainer: Ruth Carr
Jockey: Ben Curtis
IFTON changed hands for a modest sum at the Horses In Training Sale since when his two outings for new connections has met with contrasting results. While shaping in eye-catching fashion at Carlisle, the gelding was the subject of sustained backing at Leicester only to detest the very soft conditions. Back on a quicker surface here, he should be given the chance to prove that run to be all wrong.
Doncaster Best Bets
Race 5: ARCTIC OCEAN (4)
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute
Jockey: Jimmy Quinn
A tactical race is in the offing here but ARCTIC OCEAN can take a step up the class ladder in her stride. The selection impressed with the way she picked up at the business end of her latest start at Beverley to go clear and she finds herself getting weight from each of her three rivals. Should nobody want to go on she’s got the quality of setting her own pace, as we know she gets the trip extremely well.
Race 7: ALBERT BOY (8)
Trainer: Scott Dixon
Jockey: William Carver
There’s a ring of consistency about ALBERT BOY that goes with him into most of his races and usually results in a frame finish. That’s been the emergent pattern in his three outings so far this season, but in this race, his winning chances are higher. On soft ground at Ripon last time he was unable to fight back when headed two furlongs out, but if adopting the same forcing tactics on better going he can deservedly put his head in front here.
