Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips from Thursday’s racing at Ffos Las, Chepstow and Epsom.
Ffos Las Best Bet
Race 3: SURREY BLAZE (3)
Trainer: Dan Skelton
Jockey: Harry Skelton
Prolific Flat winner SURREY BLAZE is in the right hands to do well in this sphere and showed he’s a winner waiting to happen when third to Purple King on his debut at Stratford. Although finding it hard going against more experienced foes in the closing stages, he jumped well in the main and is reported by my mole in the yard to have learned a lot from that outing.
Race 7: BRAID BLUE (1)
Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Jockey: Richard Johnson
Hat-trick seeker BRAID BLUE has a great chance to add to his laurels and sweep aside the challenge of the equally in-form Sunset Showdown. He had nothing to beat at Perth last month but nevertheless got the job done with the minimum of fuss and looks one to follow on the summer jumping circuit.
Chepstow Best Bets
Race 3: ABOVE (1)
Trainer: Archie Watson
Jockey: Oisin Murphy
The beautifully bred ABOVE looked a Royal Ascot prospect when scoring on debut at Chelmsford but has been kept back. This is for reasons unknown, but if the colt has the potential his pedigree suggests, he will surely be difficult to stop in this weak novice stakes. A penalty is the only thing that might enable Swinley Forest, who gets 7lbs, making a race of it.
Race 4: MAD ENDEAVOUR (7)
Trainer: Stuart Kittow
Jockey: Fergus Sweeney
Connections of MAD ENDEAVOUR have adopted a softly, softly approach to the season for the eight-year-old who is having just a third start of the campaign. He’s well drawn for his customary forcing tactics to work even though there is plenty of pace in this sprint. The blinkered gelding hails from a small stable that has done well with its sprinters over the years.
Epsom Best Bets
Race 2: GOODWOOD REBEL (3)
Trainer: Ralph Beckett
Jockey: Harry Bentley
The presence of unknown quantity Flashing Approach makes heavy-hitting risky in this interesting maiden, but GOODWOOD REBEL has a strong experience card to play after staying on strongly in second on his latest of three outings at Salisbury. That happened on easy conditions but there appears no reason why he won’t prove just as effective on quicker ground.
Race 4: COOL REFLECTION (5)
Trainer: Paul Cole
Jockey: Luke Morris
Moving up the distance ladder, COOL REFLECTION is of serious interest after looking unlucky not to catch Delegate This Lord at Bath. He responded gamely to driving on a track that might not have suited and should enjoy the final climb to the line over this extra furlong. His stable is quietly having winners, and the effect of first-time blinkers can prove an additional asset.
