Neil Morrice brings you all of his best bets and tips for Friday 19 April from around the United Kingdom.
Lingfield Best Bets
Race 2: AMADE (1)
Trainer: A Botti
Jockey: Christophe Soumillon
One for the punters arrives post haste in the shape of AMADE who can tee up a big day for the French by following in the hoofprints of last year’s winner Funny Kid. He’s completed a Nap hand of triumphs since stepping up in trip including two victories on English soil. He has nothing to fear from the likes of Higher Power, Aircraft Carrier or Grey Britain on recent Chelmsford form.
Race 3: PATTIE (8) (Each Way)
Trainer: Mick Channon
Jockey: Joe Fanning
Named after the ex-wife of George Harrison and Eric Clapton, PATTIE has more going for her in this ultra-competitive heat than meets the eye. She racked up three earning runs on sand this year before tackling the Spring Cup at Newbury in which she wasn’t far out of the money. She has a good draw and on a course where everything can change within seconds at the finish, she can arrive late to get into the argument again.
Race 5: PIZZICATO (7)
Trainer: Fabrice Chappet
Jockey: Christophe Soumillon
The French have a habit of successfully plundering Lingfield on Good Friday and history can again repeat itself with the progressive PIZZICATO. The recent Chantilly Listed winner was partnered by Soumillon that day and the combination look poised to strike again on the way to better things.
Bath Best Bets
Race 2: ZULU ZANDER (1)
Trainer: David Evans
Jockey: Adam Kirby
One suspects winning juvenile ZULU ZANDER is the main reason for Kirby’s presence at the Somerset course and everything point to him delivering the goods again. Backed down to odds-on, he came home unchallenged at Leicester and with the Evans juveniles in especially good order is capable of defying his penalty.
Race 4: PETRUS (5)
Trainer: Brian Meehan
Jockey: Martin Dwyer
With the race cutting up owing to doubly declared horses taking other options the chances of PETRUS following up his recent Spring Mile success at Doncaster have increased. The way he got the job done on the Town Moor strongly suggests he’s improved both physically and mentally through the winter and has it in his armoury to follow-up.
Newcastle Best Bets
Race 2: LUFRICIA (7)
Trainer: Roger Varian
Jockey: Andrea Athenians
The Varian team are pinging in the winners and LUFRICIA could well be another in this tightly knit maiden. She’s getting her sex allowance from a couple of winning colts and showed sufficient when third on her Kempton debut to indicate there’s plenty more to come.
Race 5: ISLAND BRAVE (2)
Trainer: Heather Main
Jockey: Scott McCullough
ISLAND BRAVE paid the price for a successful 2018 campaign by taking a hike in the ratings but McCullough’s 7lb claim could be worth its weight in gold here. Not only did the five-year-old win this same race 12 months ago but he is the only course and distance scorer in the field. Furthermore, a promising frame finish on his reappearance at Kempton three weeks ago should have brought him nicely to the boil.
