Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Friday’s racing at Nottingham, Hamilton, Newmarket and Newbury.
Nottingham Park Best Bets
Race 1: VISIBLE CHARM (7)
Trainer: Charlie Appleby
Jockey: Adam Kirby
Although not the most straightforward of individuals, VISIBLE CHARM has the wherewithal to open his account if on his best behaviour. He wore a hood in the paddock on his latest start at Sandown and his edginess displayed itself in the preliminaries. He nevertheless acquitted himself well to finish third to Shared Belief and if building on that should be too good for Dark Silver.
Race 4: SWEET PROMISE (2)
Trainer: James Fanshawe
Jockey: George Wood
SWEETBPROMISE did not know she was a 25-1 shot on her Doncaster debut last month where she landed the spoils in the manner of a short-prices favourite, looking very professional in the way she quickened clear of her ten rivals. She now has to concede weight to horses from some of the Newmarket powerhouses but they will have to be extra special to stop her.
Hamilton Park Park Best Bets
Race 2: DARK REGARD (4)
Trainer: Mark Johnston
Jockey: PJ McDonald
Byline and Lexington Warfare both shaped well to place on their debuts and set the standard but DARK REGARD comes here with a big home reputation behind her and might be worth chancing for a stable that can do nothing wrong. She carries the colours of Laurens, and while not in that league targets this race after skipping several opportunities in the last couple of weeks.
Race 6: KING AND QUEEN (10)
Trainer: Mark Johnston
Jockey: PJ McDonald
There’s no telling how much KING AND QUEEN had up his sleeve when storming six lengths clear of his Hamilton foes on debut for Johnston after joining the trainer from Germany. Having landed some good bets that day and passing the post easing down, a 6lb penalty is most unlikely to stop his progression.
Newmarket Best Bets
Race 3: ALFRED BOUCHER (4)
Trainer: Henry Candy
Jockey: Ryan Moore
The booking of Moore will take some value off the head of ALFRED BOUCHER but the recent Lingfield winner appears to have everything going for him and is strongly fancied to follow up. The grey landed some good bets in that turf race and the fact that he looked better the further he travelled suggests this step up to a mile is just what he wants.
Race 4: WHISPERING BEAUTY (7)
Trainer: William Haggas
Jockey: John Egan
Starting a 25-1 roughie on her course and distance debut, WHISPERING BEAUTY shaped promisingly to chase home Fabulist and is going to have derived considerable benefit from the experience. She has more scope for improvement than Ardiente who carries a penalty for her Kempton win and hasn’t been seen for almost eight months.
Newbury Park Park Best Bets
Race 3: SEA OF FAITH (4)
Trainer: William Haggas
Jockey: James Doyle
The fact that SEA OF FAITH was considered for a tilt at the Investec Oaks tells you that she is well regarded at Summerville Lodge and although well beaten by Queen Power in a trial for the Classic at Newbury she duly trounced inferior rivals to open her account at Doncaster. That should have served to give this talented individual a confidence boost and she can follow-up on the way to better things.
Race 7: JUNGLE JUICE (1)
Trainer: Mick Channon
Jockey: George Bass
There’s no telling how much KING AND QUEEN had up his sleeve when storming six lengths clear of his Hamilton foes on debut for Johnston after joining the trainer from Germany. Having landed some good bets that day and passing the post easing down, a 6lb penalty is most unlikely to stop his progression.
