Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips from UK Racing at Haydock, Kempton Park, Lingfield and Ludlow.
Haydock Best Bets
Race 2: KEEP WONDERING (6)
Trainer: Philip Hobbs
Jockey: David Crosse
The Hobbs stable looks to have a useful prospect in KEEP WONDERING based on his pleasing comeback run at Aintree. The five-year-old is, without doubt, a chaser in the making but can pick up some nice races over hurdles on the way – he travelled best for a long way when beaten by Mossy Fen and should now be more streetwise.
Race 3: CHAMPAGNE MYSTERY (2)
Trainer: Nicky Henderson
Jockey: Nico De Boinville
From last year’s winning stable, CHAMPAGNE MYSTERY faces competition for the lead from both Whatmore and Dashel Drasher, but such was the authority he exuded when scoring at Aintree last month that he can see them off and take this fascinating novice chase on the way to better things.
Race 6: TRUE ROMANCE (5)
Trainer: Julia Brooke
Jockey: Henry Brooke
TRUE ROMANCE is on a recovery mission after throwing his race away at Musselburgh last month. Always prominent, he showed in front three flights out and went clear, but squandered a four lengths lead on the run in by idling. The five-year-old has bundles of talent and can put the record straight.
Kempton Park Best Bets
Race 2: AL DAWODIYA (8)
Trainer: Richard Hannon
Jockey: Jim Crowley
An outstanding chance for AL DAWODIYA to open her account given she has a plum draw for a horse with natural early speed. She displayed that on her latest start at Chelmsford and was only reeled-in late by Dawning. Now having her third career outing, she should lead up and prove very hard to catch.
Race 4: SILENT ECHO (5)
Trainer: Peter Hedger
Jockey: Jim Crowley
Lightly-raced this year but having posted a solid run at Lingfield last time, SILENT ECHO looks like a horse ready to win with today looking like D day. That third over seven furlongs didn’t cry out for a drop on the distance scale but it should have brought him to the boil.
Race 6: RAVENOUS (12) (Each Way)
Trainer: Luke Dace
Jockey: Theodore Ladd
Old man of the party RAVENOUS hasn’t been able to capitalise on a falling mark but has solid claims if he enjoys the rub of the green. The dual-purpose performer hails from a stable that posts few winners but with three confirmed pacesetters in the field should get the fast pace he requires to counter at the business end. He got going too late at Wolverhampton and ran better than his 50-1 odds indicated.
Lingfield Best Bets
Race 3: BARRINGTON (10)
Trainer: Mike Appleby
Jockey: Alistair Rawlinson
Named after retired trainer Barry Hills, BARRINGTON is in pastures new after a high profile two and three-year-old campaign that saw him run in Group races and at Royal Ascot. In this Class 3 handicap, he gets weight from all his rivals and takes an eyecatching run to post, having stayed on well but too late to menace in a Class 4 at Wolverhampton. While unable to reach the heights once hoped for him, he can have a big say in this.
Race 6: TACITLY (9)
Trainer: Roger Charlton
Jockey: Adam McNamara
Given how much juveniles improve from their first run to their second from this stable, TACITLY deserves the utmost respect and should prove hard to beat. She got amongst horses on her Kempton introduction and was only shaken off in the final furlong. However the experience should have taught her bundles, and from a splendid gate on the rail, she can open her account.
Ludlow Best Bets
Race 3: EVA’S DIVA (7) (Each Way)
Trainer: Phil Middleton
Jockey: Mr S Lee
Perennial bridesmaid EVA’S DIVA probably faced an impossible task against Paricolor at Fakenham last time, but nonetheless gave that rival plenty to think about when going clear rounding the home turn. Although put in her place on the run-in, the five-year-old acquitted herself well and the form has been fully endorsed by her conqueror.
Race 6: DERRICK D’ANJOU (6)
Trainer: Graham McPherson
Jockey: Kielan Woods
The racecourse appearances of DERRICK D’ANJOU are thin on the ground, but the 8yo signalled that he’s a horse that can make up for lost time when storming home at Exeter in the soft. He has further room for improvement and can get the better of fellow recent scorers Those Tiger Feet and Urtheronethatiwant.
Written by Neil Morrice for Hollywoodbets
