Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips from Thursday’s racing taking place at Newmarket & York.
NEWMARKET & YORK VIDEO ANALYSIS
NEWMARKET
Race 2 No9 CHAIRMANOFTHEBOARD
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Andrea Atzeni
There’s a theme of consistency in the form of CHAIRMANOFTHEBOARD who after losing his way last season has been in the money in each of his last six starts, winning at Windsor. The key to him is the prospect of rain for this delayed start to the prestigious July meeting. Plenty is forecast and if it arrives his chance improves.
Race 4 No6 ROPEY GUEST (Each Way)
Trainer: George Margarson – Jockey: Tom Queally
Having been placed in four consecutive Group 3s the claims of ROPEY GUEST should not be underestimated. Admittedly the colt has been well beaten by the likes of Wichita and Military March here but he got to within half a length of Kenzai Warriorin heavy ground at Haydock and again showed a preference for easy conditions when fourth to Molatham at Royal Ascot.
Race 6 (July Stakes)
No5 QAADER (Nap)
Trainer: Mark Johnston – Jockey: Jim Crowley
QAADER created a big impression when scoring on her Newbury debut and was the first home of the main fancies in the Coventry, finishing second to rank outsider Nando Parrado in that Royal Ascot Group 2. Considering he got quite warm in the preliminaries and didn’t enjoy the rub of the green in the race itself, it was a fine effort and stands him in good stead to go close in this July Stakes.
YORK
Race 2 No1 FOX VARDY
Trainer: Martyn Meade – Jockey: James Doyle
Such was the dominance with which FOX VARDY delivered on his reappearance at Newmarket that the Frankel gelding looks to have improved considerably, and should be followed in handicaps. He came home fully 14 lengths clear of Thaqaffa and few races of any description are won by such margins on the Flat.
Race 3 No2 STORTING
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
On ability alone STORTING is entitled to have scored more than once in his nine-race career, but easier ground might prove the key to him as he returns stronger from a seven month break. His work has been as good as ever, and connections can look forward to a bountiful season whilst cherry-picking the right races for him.
Race 5 (Musidora Stakes)
No4 FRANCONIA
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: Graham Lee
This is just as good a field as you might expect for this traditional Oaks trial when staged at its regular slot in May. There’s no Classic for the fillies to aim at but in spite of glowing messages for both Pocket Square and Ricetta the one to be on is FRANCONIA. Bred to enjoy any easing in conditions, the Frankel filly took out a Listed race at Newbury in silky-smooth style last month. As that was only her second career start there should be plenty more to come from the selection, whose jockey comes in for a rare plum ride for the Gosden operation, and can make the most of his opportunity.
Race 6 (Dante Stakes)
No4 HIGHEST GROUND
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
When winning the Juddmonte, Frankel recorded one of his most spectacular triumphs on his only visit to the Knavesmire, and on a red-letter day for the racecourse that stallion’s progeny are firmly in the spotlight. In this rescheduled Dante Stakes he’s responsible for Juan Elcano and HIGHEST GROUND, with the latter taken to show that he’s the new star on the block for Stoute. The Niarchos Family-owned colt preserved his unbeaten record by decisively toppling Waldkonig over this extended mile and a quarter trip at Haydock to show himself a star in the making, while his latest strong work in Newmarket indicates he’s ready to bring his A-game to the table as he steps into a Group 2.
Race 8 No1 MUKER
Trainer: Phillip Makin – Jockey: Paul Mulrennan
There are plenty of speedily-bred newcomers in the field for this Novice stakes but MUKER’s form stamps him as the best bet on the card. The son of emerging sire Mehmas scored narrowly on debut at Newcastle but looked better on turf when finishing a length and a quarter third to Tactical in the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot where he led and only caved in in the final strides. He’s a credit to his trainer and should know far too much for the opposition.
Race 10 No4 BRIAN EPSTEIN (Each Way)
Trainer: Richard Hannon – Jockey: Pat Dobbs
BRIAN EPSTEIN had no chance when drawn on the wrong side of the track in the Buckingham Palace Handicap that opened Royal Ascot. He stayed on the finish third in his group on the far side, but the track bias ensured that those on the stands’ side enjoyed a considerable advantage. Here the luck of the draw appears to be with him, as the gelding breaks from stall 2 close to the favoured rail in a field of 17 and can put his best for forward.
CHEPSTOW
Race 3 No5 BRUNEL’S BOY
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Charles Bishop
BRUNEL’S BOY showed promise when a 66-1 roughie on his first run back at Yarmouth, but the enterprising tactics employed on his next race over six furlongs at Goodwood backfired, and he weakened disappointingly. Channon keeps him to the sprint distance, and if ridden patiently he can show that last effort to be all wrong.
Race 4 No6 BLAIRLOGIE
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: George Bass
Owned and bred by former champion jockey Willie Carson, BLAIRLOGIE has finished in the money on both starts this season at Leicester. His apprentice pilot is good value for his 7lb claim and, now pulled back to seven furlongs, the gelding can prevail.
Race 8 No4 ALENH
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Charles Bishop
Although beaten a country mile by Al Aasy at Newmarket, the giant grey ALENH could have more to offer now going down the handicap route. He’s certainly no star but this is not a good race.
