Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing at Haydock Park, Newmarket, Chepstow, Lingfield and Beverley as well as an in-depth preview of the Group 3 Betway John Of Gaunt Stakes.
Haydock Feature Preview
Race 4 Betway John Of Gaunt Stakes (Group 3)
Aside from hat-trick seeker Safe Voyage few of these go to post in the best form of their lives and the winner might be a horse that can raise his game on the soft conditions that following heavy rain looks assured.
SNAZZY SNAZZY was in winning form when last seen at Maisons-Laffitte last autumn but has a 220-day absence to overcome.
TIP TO WIN falls into the same category as the former Royal Ascot winner hasn’t run since finishing unplaced in a Doha Group 1 in December. In his favour is that his St James’s Palace Stakes triumph came on his first run of the 2018 season so can deliver when fresh from a break.
There’s not much to choose between SAFE VOYAGE and MANKIB on the book but as they re-engage on identical terms to the race over course and distance here last month the placings should be confirmed, with the former coming out on top.
SIR DANCEALOT was tilting at windmills in the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes as that mile is just too far but he didn’t fare badly in getting to within six and a half-length of Queen Anne favourite Mustashry.
Over this distance of seven he is a regular winner as last season’s triumphs in the Criterion, Lennox and Hungerford Stakes bears out. In fact, his profile as a seven furlongs specialist gives him a major chance of winning this, with all the aforementioned races still to come.
SUEDOIS was just behind Safe Voyage and Mankib here last time and could get into the argument as he will handle the conditions, and BRETON ROCK will be sharper for a pleasing first run back, but David Elsworth insists he has SIR DANCEALOT at the top of his game which is good enough for me.
Neil Morrice’s Predicted Finish
1st SIR DANCEALOT
2nd Safe Voyage
3rd Mankib
4th Suedois
5th Breton Rock
Haydock Park Best Bet
Race 5: DIAMOND DOUGAL (11) (Each Way)
Trainer: Mick Channon
Jockey: David Egan
Having run well on all three starts this year the ground has come in a big way for soft ground specialist DIAMOND DOUGAL. He didn’t get a fast enough pace to aim at when just out of the money at Ascot last time but in this big field and granted luck in running he can be a player.
Newmarket Best Bets
Race 1: AFTER JOHN (9)
Trainer: Mick Channon
Jockey: Callum Shepherd
He’s not a straightforward horse to train but there’s no doubting the ability of AFTER JOHN who looks one to follow in handicaps. He placed on his Salisbury debut before running into a Group Class horse at Newbury, then readily opened his account at Pontefract. He turns up on a workable mark and should be in the shake-up.
Race 6: GREAT BEAR (1)
Trainer: Roger Charlton
Jockey: Jason Watson
Having won as he liked at Bath, GREAT BEAR has found this first handicap venture cutting up favourably for him. He has top weight but such progressive individuals could be anything and the wisest course of action is to follow him until beaten.
Chepstow Best Bet
Race 3: GO WELL SPICY (2)
Trainer: Mick Channon
Jockey: Ronan Whelan
Easy to back on her debut at Nottingham, GO WELL SPICY belied those odds to chase home Daddies Diva and like so many juveniles from her stable should reveal a bundle of improvement. Her jockey makes a rare visit from Ireland to team up with the Channon runners which is a tip in itself.
Lingfield Best Bet
Race 7: SASHENKA (6)
Trainer: Sylvester Kirk
Jockey: Nicola Currie
With form figures of 222 SASHENKA has the mark of a perennial bridesmaid but she won’t get many better chances to open her account. The key is a big drop back on the distance ladder which can see her in a different light.
Chelmsford City Best
Race 4: COMMANDER HAN (10) (Each Way)
Trainer: Kevin Ryan
Jockey: Sam James
Carded to start as a massive roughie, COMMANDER HAN has a good draw three off the rail and drops back to a mile after failing to last home over a mile and a quarter in the Zetland Gold Cup at Redcar. That midfield finish was not a disaster as it confirmed the suspicion of the horse’s connections that he doesn’t stay. His earlier form puts him in the mix and he can bounce back.
Race 7: DURRELL (5)
Trainer: James Fanshawe
Jockey: Daniel Muscutt
The step up in trip should bring out improvement in DURRELL whose been placed in all three outings over a mile and has nothing to fear from Crimewave on the book. He attracted plenty of interest in the betting ring at Windsor last time, only to run into Lady Madison. The main threat is probably Dilmun Dynasty, one of two Sir Michael Stoute fields in the race.
Beverley Best Bet
Race 1: POET’S DAWN (8)
Trainer: Tim Easterby
Jockey: David Allan
For a horse that likes to get on with it the draw has been unkind to POET’S DAWN but the fact remains he loves this track and if able to lead could be hard to catch. It was only inside the final furlong that he capitulated on his latest outing last week which was a step up from his only other run. Now he drops back to seven and a half furlongs which gives him a better chance of getting home.
