Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Monday’s racing at Ayr, Wolverhampton, Ripon and Windsor.
Ayr Best Bets
Race 3: CLIFF BAY (5)
Trainer: Keith Dalgleish
Jockey: Shane Gray
This looks a good opportunity for CLIFF BAY to add to his laurels and avenge a narrow defeat at Musselburgh. He looked all over the winner that day and its no surprise that his shrewd trainer pulls him back a furlong on the distance ladder. The strong traveller should have too much finishing speed for his rivals.
Race 5: DUTCH PURSUIT (7)
Trainer: Michael Dods
Jockey: Connor Beasley
The unexposed DUTCH PURSUIT moves into the handicap spectrum as the narrowest of winners last time and might, therefore, have been hard for the assessor to weigh up. Three-year-olds have a good record against their elders in this race and the selection can outpoint some more experienced opponents.
Wolverhampton Best Bets
Race 1: SPARGROVE (1)
Trainer: Hughie Morrison
Jockey: Dane O’Neill
Everything looks right for a bold showing from SPARGROVE who has troubled the judge on each of his three starts this year. He’s a strong stayer with good form on the all-weather, as shown when he failed by a neck to reel in Champagne Marengo at Chelmsford last time. His prolific winning conqueror is a good yardstick to judge the value of that form by, and his trainer excels with horses of this ilk.
Race 2: MILLTOWN STAR (1)
Trainer: Mick Channon
Jockey: Callum Shepherd
As the only winner in the field, MILLTOWN STAR is entitled to the utmost respect and should prove hard to catch if adopting the same forcing tactics as when opening his account at Salisbury. He brings a progressive profile to the table, and looks Nap material to follow-up.
Ripon Best Bets
Race 3: MERRY BANTER (4)
Trainer: Paul Midgley
Jockey: Graham Lee
Having blazed off too quickly for her own good at Ayr last week, MERRY BANTER has a better chance of controlling things from the front and looks sure to gain an uncontested lead in this small field. She’s a Course and distance winner, and after five misses this year is ready to put one on the board.
Race 5: CONUNDRUM (7)
Trainer: Jedd O’Keeffe
Jockey: Graham Lee
There’s a great deal to like about the in form CONUNDRUM getting plenty of weight from his older foes. A dual winner already this season, he looked green when trying to go from gate to line in the Chester race won by Mokammal. With room for further improvement, he should prove hard to catch.
Windsor Best Bets
Race 2: FLEETING PRINCE (5)
Trainer: Charles Hills
Jockey: Kieran Shoemark
FLEETING PRINCE finished a length and a half behind Huboor on his debut at Chepstow where a closer finish would have materialised had he not hung left entering the final furlong. Bolstered by that pleasing first offering, the colt can improve sufficiently to outpoint the more experienced Hubert, with the pair set to dominate.
Race 3: CASPIAN QUEEN (7)
Trainer: Richard Hughes
Jockey: Shane Kelly
A mid-division finish on what was a pleasing debut for CASPIAN QUEEN at Lingfield should have sharpened her up nicely for what looks a weak maiden. Nothing went right for her – she missed the break, had to race wide and displayed greenness – but was only beaten just over three lengths by the winner Rosadora. Given normal progression, she should have plenty to offer.
