Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Wednesday’s racing at Catterick, Kempton, Lingfield and Musselburgh.
Catterick Park Best Bets
Race 6: SOMEONE EXCITING (6)
Trainer: David Thompson
Jockey: Harrison Shaw
Several of these sprinters have shown themselves to be adept at handling this course’s unique five furlongs with its turn into the straight, but SOMEONE EXCITING is especially effective here. The 6yo likes to weave his way through horses and hopefully, he will enjoy some racing room towards the finish. He finished off his race behind B Fifty Two in customary fashion and that form puts him right in the mix.
Race 7: SPIRIT OF WEDZA (5)
Trainer: Julie Camacho
Jockey: Victor Santos
Course and distance scorer SPIRIT OF WEDZA only beat one home at Newmarket last time, but that was in a better race than this in which there were only five runners. With a number of confirmed pacesetters in this bigger field, he should get the strong gallop he requires to allow his stamina to kick in at the finish.
Kempton Park Best Bet
Race 3: KHABEERAH (12)
Trainer: Roger Varian
Jockey: Jim Crowley
KHABEERAH could hardly have started her career more promisingly than in a mile maiden at this track when she couldn’t get to grips with the front paid but stayed on into third behind Dubai Warrior. She’s a beautifully-bred individual who given normal improvement should open her account on a surface on which she’s proven.
Race 6: BLAME IT ON SALLY (5)
Trainer: Sir Mark Prescott
Jockey: Luke Morris
While this will be a different ball game than when she made all to score unchallenged at Goodwood, BLAME IT ON SALLY is very much the one to beat under a 6lb penalty. She made all in that two miler to score by four lengths and will race from a higher mark in future, with her connections bidding to strike again while the iron is hot.
Lingfield Best Bets
Race 5: FOLLIA (2)
Trainer: Marco Botti
Jockey: Daniel Muscutt
In what looks a virtual match against previous winner Restless Endeavour, the once raced FOLLIA can take full advantage of a 7lb weight concession by her rival. Her only outing produced a promising effort in which she lost ground by veering right at the start but ran on into third behind Hamish Macbeth when being switched right and seeing daylight. Her subsequent work suggests she learned a fair bit from that.
Race 7: ROUNDABOUT MAGIC (4)
Trainer: Simon Dow
Jockey: Nicky Mackay
ROUNDABOUT MAGIC is worthy of a change of luck, having run a couple of good races to make the frame and show the door is ajar and about to be opened. The 5yo found the minimum trip an inadequate test here last time and should be a lot more at home now stepping up to six furlongs although her draw (10) could have been kinder.
Musselburgh Best Bets
Race 5: IFTON (3)
Trainer: Ruth Carr
Jockey: Tom Eaves
IFTON is on the cusp of a first win since joining this stable earlier in the year, having run several good races and not had the best of luck. As a hold-up performer he needs things to drop right, but that didn’t happen at Yarmouth last time where he travelled best but found racing real estate too late to catch Purgatory. As a horse that is better than his current mark, he must be backed to win this.
