Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Thursday’s racing from Lingfield, Sandown and Goodwood.
Lingfield Best Bet
Race 1: SEABORN (4)
Trainer: Patrick Chamings
Jockey: William Carver
A combination of circumstances have brought about a renaissance from SEABORN this year and the 5yo can carry on the example set by his winning comeback at Brighton for which he’s been raised only 3lb. A wind operation and a change of scenery can be given as a reason for his recent improvement.
Sandown Best Bets
Race 2: FULL AUTHORITY (1) (Nap)
Trainer: David O’Meara
Jockey: Danny Tudhope
A race that always has a bearing on Royal Ascot can go to FULL AUTHORITY who looked very smart when coming home unchallenged on his Chester introduction and although obviously very speedy has it in his pedigree to want further than five furlongs, making the stiff finish here no issue. He landed some good bets and can stake his claims for the Norfolk Stakes, or the Coventry.
Race 3: DEE EX BEE (1)
Trainer: Mark Johnston
Jockey: Silvestre de Sousa
Last year’s Investec Derby runner-up and St Leger fourth DEE EX BEE impressed when moving up to two miles in the Sagaro Stakes at Ascot and can take this Group 3 (Henry II Stakes) en route to the (Ascot) Gold Cup. He has to give 3lb to a potentially dangerous foe in Mekong but with that impressive three lengths winning run already under his belt he’ll be a tough nut to crack on the uphill run to the line.
Race 4: MATTERHORN (5)
Trainer: Mark Johnston
Jockey: Joe Fanning
A winner of seven of his eleven starts, MATTERHORN is the type of free running gallopers his trainer excels with and he looks ready to take advantage of this drop into a Group 3, having gone down by only three-quarters of a length to Forest Ranger in a Group 2 at Chester. Again it should be a rival from the Stoute stable that presents most problems, and Regal Reality is taken to follow him home.
Goodwood Best Bets
Race 3: LIGHTENING DANCE (7)
Trainer: Amanda Perrett
Jockey: Jim Crowley
The blinkered LIGHTENING DANCE makes a shirt return to the course following a solid return when placed at Windsor last week. Her trainer likes nothing more than posting winners at this, her local track and the 5yo can get into the shake-up of an admittedly tightly knit fillies’ handicap.
Race 4: TWO BLONDES (3) (Each Way)
Trainer: Mick Channon
Jockey: Silvestre de Sousa
At likely double-figure odds it’s worth taking a punt on TWO BLONDES returning to the form he showed when winning here last summer. In order to get the best out of him he needs to be ridden positively. Those tactics might have been a tad overplayed on his return to action at Ripon but with de Sousa in the plate he should not be underestimated.
