Neil Morrice brings us all os his best bets and tips for Thursday’s racing at Yarmouth, Haydock Park and Newbury.
Yarmouth Best Bet
Race 3: JUNIOR RIP (1)
Trainer: Roger Charlton
Jockey: Adam J McNamara
The blinkered JUNIOR RIP makes the long journey from Beckhampton which I suspect is not for the goodness of his health. He’s joint top weight in a tightly knit handicap and has the ability to serve it up from the front. He meets Cherry Cola on 5lb better terms than for a recent length and a quarter defeat at Windsor which should tilt the scales in his favour.
Haydock Park Best Bets
Race 4: MASHAM STAR (2)
Trainer: Mark Johnston
Jockey: PJ McDonald
MASHAM STAR has established himself as a captain of industry by virtually training himself on the track and he absolutely thrives on racing. His preference to force the pace is no longer an essential ingredient to his performance levels and he showed battling qualities in a hot Class 2 at Nottingham won by Circus Couture. Although his visits to the winners’ circle are infrequent, he has a good opportunity to convert in this.
Race 7: CITY TOUR (4)
Trainer: Mark Johnston
Jockey: PJ McDonald
Johnston’s three-year-olds have a good record in handicaps here and CITY TOUR might find this track more to his liking than Carlisle, where he never looked like recovering from a tardy start. In this small field he can bounce back.
Newbury Best Bets
Race 3: PATCHOULI (4)
Trainer: Mick Channon
Jockey: Gerald Moses
A switch of venue did the trick for PATCHOULI who benefitted from a precision timed waiting ride at Ripon last week. That was apt reward after three visits to Nottingham where she didn’t have the best of draws. She’s taken the Ripon exertions in her stride and has a good chance to follow up. If there’s cut in the ground it shouldn’t bother her.
Race 7: JUMPING JACK (2)
Trainer: Chris Gordon
Jockey: Mr Simon Walker
Having the best jockey can be a big advantage in amateur riders’ races such as this and dual-purpose horse JUMPING JACK can put his best foot forward. He was doing his best work towards the end of his latest outing at Sandown but although held up on that occasion can also be ridden prominently.
