Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips from Monday’s racing at Worcester, Ayr, Windsor and Ripon.
Worcester Best Bet
Race 5: EVITA DU MESNIL (2)
Trainer: Dr Richard Newland
Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
In what looks a straight match EVITA DU MESNIL can get the better of Bannixtown Glory. The selection may have achieved more than her rival when chasing home the very useful Valse Au Taillons at Stratford where she ran out of gas over the last couple of flights. That’s why her astute trainer brings her back to the minimum trip here, and she can go one better.
Ayr Best Bets
Race 3: JORDAN ELECTRICS (5)
Trainer: Linda Perratt
Jockey: Ben Robinson
While Warning Fire was impressive when making all at Haydock he could find this harder under a penalty and the in-form JORDAN ELECTRICS is preferred. The hooded 6yo has plied his trade at Hamilton with a win and a second there on his last two outings. Importantly he drops down a Grade for this.
Race 4: MERRY BANTER (4)
Trainer: Paul Midgley
Jockey: Ben Robinson
Although yet to win this year the speedy MERRY BANTER can go from gate to wire in this and turn around earlier form with Venturous. She ran well in Listed company last time, only giving best in the final 100 yards, and this represents a class drop that she is strongly fancied to take advantage of.
Windsor Best Bets
Race 3: PATCHOULI (5)
Trainer: Mick Channon
Jockey: Scott McCullough
PATCHOULI drops into a claimer for the first time and needs respect in a weak looking heat. She had no luck with the draw in three visits to Nottingham earlier in the season, and after opening her account under a well-timed ride at Ripon, has twice failed to figure. However this is the weakest race she’s contested and accordingly, she should have a big say.
Race 6: KING ADEMAR (2)
Trainer: Martyn Meade
Jockey: Oisin Murphy
KING ADEMAR frequently attracts market support and this 95-rated colt has plenty going for him in a race where 300,000 Guineas Godolphin newcomer is potentially dangerous. The selection can be forgiven a heavy defeat in the Britannia as that Royal Ascot contest is the hottest of its kind, and if able to get back to the level of form when second on each of his previous two outings this season would be more than good enough to take this.
Ripon Best Bets
Race 1: KNIGHTCAP (3)
Trainer: Tim Easterby
Jockey: Rachel Richardson
Unless there’s a ready-to-go newcomer in the field KNIGHTCAP should be able to play the experience card to good effect. She gave away three places in the closing stages of her last outing at Redcar after travelling strongly, and its interesting that after what was a handicap mark-earning run her connections have chosen to target another maiden rather than go down the nursery route.
Race 4: MANDARIN (6)
Trainer: Ian Williams
Jockey: Paul Hanagan
With few miles on the clock there’s probably a bit more to come from MANDARIN who goes to post on the back of a couple of solid runs in defeat. The Class 3 in which he chased home Badenscoth at Sandown was just as hot at this race and the German-bred might have finished closer but for losing ground at the start. The thing he has to do is prove that he’s as effective on a faster surface, which he’s likely to encounter here.
