Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing at Sandown, Beverley, Chester, Wolverhampton and Chelmsford.
Sandown Undercard
Race 3: JUBILOSO (6)
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute
Jockey: Ryan Moore
The professional backers on the course might view the short odds about JUBILOSO as tempting, as she’s definitely a filly with Group 1 potential and finds herself in an all-aged Group 3 getting allowances from her older rivals. After two convincing wins in a novice and a Listed race she was not in any way disgraced jumping straight into Group 1 company and finishing third in the Coronation Stakes. It stamped her as potentially top class, but she then fell foul of the tricky Goodwood course when only third in a Group 3 there earlier in the month. At 8-11, a lot of fingers were burned on her but you can get Evens with Hollywoodbets today, in what I consider an easier race.
Race 7: CHEF DE TROUPE (3)
Trainer: Dr Richard Newland
Jockey: Liam Keniry
Dual-purpose horse CHEF DE TROUPE boldly attempted to make all before finishing second in a warm handicap hurdle on heavy ground at Perth earlier in the month. He is fit and fancied, even though it’s almost two years since he was last asked to race on the Flat. That good run in Scotland has blown away any cobwebs and he should prove a tough nut to crack.
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Watch Neil Morrice’s preview for Saturday’s feature race – The Solario Stakes – at Sandown below.
Sandown Feature Race Analysis
Betway Solario Stakes (Group 3)
This recognised trial for the 2,000 Guineas has fallen to some megastars in recent years, though it’s very doubtful the renewal houses anything near the ability of either Kingman or Too Darn Hot.
Both those colts ended their juvenile seasons as the outstanding colts in training, before going on to scale the heights.
Should ante-post favourite POSITIVE oblige for trainer Clive Cox and jockey Adam Kirby his Classic odds won’t tumble as much as Pinatubo’s. The last-named colt made a hack out of Positive when beating him five lengths in the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood, and even though that carries Group 2 status it stacked up like a Group 1 and is probably the best race of its kind run so far this season.
Positive had previously impressed on his debut and according to Cox been working the house down in Lambourn. If the same colt turns up he will be hard to beat.
AL SUHAIL forms the main fork of Charlie Appleby’s twin spearhead in the race and is almost certainly a superior colt to FULL VERSE.
The dogs had barked his name all over the course before he was mugged on the line on his debut, but he made no mistake next time as a so-called ‘penalty kick’ at Yarmouth where he cantered up at 1-6. He could be anything and has Group 1 entries that make you think Godolphin consider him to be a bit special.
The Mark Johnston-trained VISINARI is a long-striding individual who might find this track more suitable than the undulating Goodwood, where he was over seven lengths adrift of Positive in fourth. He’s been campaigned like a good horse and could reduce that margin, as he’s probably better than he’s shown so far.
There’s a dark element to KAMEKO who looked the part when converting on his introduction here despite idling when he hit the front upon meeting the rising ground. Andrew Balding has been delighted with his subsequent demeanour but this is quite a big step up for him.
ESHAASY represents last year’s winning connections but the John Gosden-trained runner opened his account by just a neck on the Kempton Polytrack, form that doesn’t make him look good enough.
Hat-trick seeker HECTOR LOZA represents the small Epsom stable of Simon Dow. It would be great for the game were he to spring a surprise, but it seems an unlikely scenario.
Neil Morrice’s Predicted Finish:
1st POSTIVE
2nd Visinari
3rd Al Suhail
4th Kameko
5th Eshaasy
Beverley Best Bets
Race 3: DANZENO (3)
Trainer: Mick Appleby
Jockey: Alistair Rawlinson
DANZENO is at eight the old man of the party, but the featured Beverley Bullet has fallen to veterans including 11-year-old Take Cover last year. The selection wasn’t quite at his best last season but with his two wins and two near misses at Ascot he’s bounced back with a vengeance. Under a welter burden, he wasn’t beaten far when third at the Shergar Cup and if overcoming his wide draw can swoop to conquer.
Race 4: SHEEPSCAR LAD (7)
Trainer: Nigel Tinkler
Jockey: Faye McManoman
From a cracking draw, four off the rail SHEEPSCAR LAD can reverse recent placings here with Atyaaf. His trainer also saddles Bashiba who doesn’t enjoy the same luxury, so given luck in running Sheepscar Lad can get back the losses sustained on him last time.
Chester Best Bets
Race 1: BREATHALYZE (2)
Trainer: Tom Dascombe
Jockey: Richard Kingscote
The winning form BREATHALYZE showed over course and distance a month ago adds up well and even with a penalty to shoulder the locally-trained runner makes plenty of appeal. He stormed to a four lengths triumph over The New Marwan and could be too sprightly for Berkshire Rocco, whose stable must always be respected here.
Race 3: TRIBAL CRAFT (5)
Trainer: Andrew Balding
Jockey: Martin Dwyer
This Listed feature takes a bit of sorting out but on the assumption he met a decent rival when beaten by Sea Of Faith at Salisbury, TRIBAL CRAFT can take the spoils. One of four three-year-olds in the field, she stays well and can make the best of her 5lb sex allowance to thwart the fascinating Irish raider Stivers, a very rare runner here for his trainer.
Wolverhampton Best Bets
Race 2: ALL YOURS (1)
Trainer: Sean Curran
Jockey: Megan Nicholls
Having run well on both Flat starts in a career badly affected by setbacks, ALL YOURS can land what I suspect is a weak maiden. The winning hurdler was only just denied over a mile and a half at Ffos Las and has the pace to cope with a drop to a mile and a quarter.
Chelmsford Best Bets
Race 3: HARD NUT (3)
Trainer: Richard Hannon
Jockey: Ryan Moore
This is a hot nursery but not as competitive as either of those HARD NUT contested at the big Goodwood and York Festivals earlier this month. He found trouble in running before finishing with a wet sail on the first occasion and was again doing some sterling work at the finish from what proved a disadvantageous draw on the Knavesmire. With just five opponents this is a whole different ball game, and I expect him to appreciate it by repeating his earlier course and distance success.
Race 6: SUN CUISINE (6)
Trainer: Charlie Appleby
Jockey: William Buick
A gamble on SUN CUISINE came unstuck when the colt might have found seven furlongs an inadequate test on his Yarmouth introduction. Backed as if defeat was out of the question and starting 1-3, the Godolphin owned juvenile beat only one home but that said was beaten a total of only two and a quarter lengths. He’s greatly impressed in his subsequent work in Newmarket and should make no mistake this time.
