Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips from Saturday’s racing at Newbury, Newmarket, Doncaster and Bangor-On-Dee.
Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes (Group 1) Preview
Status wise this is the most important race run at Newbury, bringing together as it does the best of the younger and older miling generations and both colts and fillies.
The spotlight will fall on the remarkable LAURENS whose career tally includes four Group 1 successes. Trainer Karl Burke reports her to have thrived during the winter and, readied by a pleasing gallop on the Tapeta track at Newcastle, ready to try to take advantage of her 3lb sex allowance.
Standing in her way from last year’s winning connections is the much-traveled but lightly raced LE BRIVIDO, representing Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore. The 5yo won the Jersey Stakes when trained by Andre Fabre in 2017 but then suffered training problems. On his first start for the Coolmore operation, he finished an eye-catching third at Naas, after missing the break.
BEAT THE BANK comes right into the argument granted the determination he showed to land the Group 2 Sandown Mile on his seasonal reappearance for Andrew Balding. He had to dig deep to land the spoils but the race has brought him forward, while the likelihood of quickish ground is also a boon to him.
LORD GLITTERS holds equally solid claims and like the majority in the fourteen runner field will hope to graduate onto the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot after this. Having finished second to ACCIDENTAL AGENT in that Group 1 last year, David O’Meara’s 6yo indicated he’s a worthy contender for this with his third to Almond Eye at the Dubai World Cup.
Sir Michael Stoute fields the progressive MUSTASHRY who might have been a shade ring rusty for his seasonal return at Newmarket but is a horse that’s dangerous to leave out.
Neil Morrice’s Predicted Finish
First: LAURENS
Second: Mustashry
Third: Lord Glitters
Fourth: Beat The Bank
Fifth: Le Brivido
Newbury undercard Best Bets
Race 6: SEA OF FAITH (6)
Trainer: William Haggas
Jockey: James Doyle
History can repeat itself in this trial for the Investec Oaks with SEA OF FAITH following in the hoofprints of stablemate Sea Of Class.
The daughter of Sea The Stars didn’t appear to have a clue what to do in her Sandown debut where she was anchored in rear while running green. Her pilot executed identical tactics to those administered to Sea Of Class last year and SEA OF FAITH stayed on strongly at the finish to get into the frame, at the end of an experience that should have taught her bundles. This is a step up the class ladder but I’ll be surprised if she doesn’t boost her Epsom claims and open her account.
Race 7: THRAVE (12)
Trainer: Henry Candy
Jockey: Jason Watson
Owing to training setbacks THRAVE embarks on what is only a sixth career start but with few miles on the clock, he is capable of showing further improvement at the age of four. His trainer thought enough if him to go for last year’s Lingfield Derby Trial in which he wasn’t disgraced, while after attracting market support ahead of his Newmarket comeback he just got tired in the final 100 yards. That should have put the gloss on him for a huge run in this well-contested finale.
Newmarket Best Bets
Race 2: JASH (4)
Trainer: Simon Crisford
Jockey: Dane O’Neill
If Crisford has a Group 1 horse in his Newmarket stables JASH is probably the name in question and he really should be capable of landing this Listed race on his return to action. He impressed in winning at Newmarket and Salisbury last year before going down by just half a length to Two Sovereigns in the Middle Park Stakes. The Crisford yard has been a little quiet but JASH can pave the way for a revival and win this on the way to better things.
Race 3: KINKS (11) (Each Way)
Trainer: Mick Channon
Jockey: Nicola Currie
KINKS might be a horse that has gone under the radar as both his recent starts were promising, especially at Chester last week where he had the misfortune of breaking from a wide draw. Behind early, he picked up encouragingly in the short home straight to be beaten three and a half lengths into sixth of 13. That run is better than it looks, and at likely long odds he can figure.
Doncaster Best Bets
Race 6: KENNY THE CAPTAIN (15) (Each Way)
Trainer: Tim Easterby
Jockey: Rachel Richardson
Closely matched with several of these on recent form lines, KENNY THE CAPTAIN is definitely a name to conjure with if there’s any cut in the ground. He finished last but one in an identical race at Thirsk last time but now the going has eased it could be a different story, while equally important is that he’ll start at a big double-figure price for a race where there are four places.
Bangor-On-Dee Best Bet
Race 1: LANTIERN (3)
Trainer: Harry Whittington
Jockey: Nico de Boinville
After opening his account in a Bumper at Lingfield, LANTIERN fluffed his lines after being heavily backed at Kempton and is better than that. He’s worked and schooled pleasingly since that reverse and can gain a first win over jumps for his in-form trainer.
