Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Thursday’s racing at Doncaster, Chepstow and Epsom including an in-depth preview of the Weatherby’s Racing Bank 300 000 2 Y-O Stakes.
Doncaster Day 2 feature race analysis
15.15 Weatherbys Racing Bank 300,000 2-Y-O Stakes
Richard Hannon is a name synonymous to success in the big Sales races and the Herridge trainer could again hold the key to this with MANIGORDO.
ZIGGLE POPS and D DAY give him a triple line of attack but on all evidence, Manigordo is the stable’s number one. He travelled beautifully on his latest outing at Ascot back in July only to be grabbed by Kingbrook in the closing stages, since then his attention has been firmly on this contest. He’s put in some pleasing work and it’s not a coincidence that the Hannon juveniles are performing particularly well at present.
At a bigger price INDIAN CREAK could get into the shake-up and he’s one to include in all exotics. Mick Channon’s colt bolted up at Epsom before running creditably in a valuable nursery at Goodwood where he was just out of the money. He returned to that course to make all over seven furlongs last month, coming home clear of Qaaddim. He has the necessary gears to cope with this return to a slightly shorter trip.
With three set to represent Coolmore, Aidan O’Brien appears he’ll bent on bagging the loot and of that triumvirate HARPOCRATES looks the pick. Ryan Moore’s mount found only Valdermoro his superior in a Group 3 at York and is taking a class drop. The blinkered colt has earned in all but one of his six outings and looks sure to be involved.
PISTOLETTO also performed in Pattern company when last seen, finishing in mid-division behind THREAT in the Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes at York. He finished off his race well and commands respect.
REPARTEE finished third in the same race and hails from a Kevin Ryan yard that contains some talented juveniles. It was only his third outing and by rights he should again beat Pistoletto.
Another northern trained contender with definite expectations is GLASVEGAS who hasn’t been seen since making the frame in the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot in June. That third of 21 starters is made to look better by the fact he was doing all his best work at the finish, suggesting a step up to this trip might be just what the doctor ordered.
Neil Morrice’s Predicted Finish
1st MANIGORDO
2nd Harpocrates
3rd Pistoletto
4th Indian Creak
5th Gladvegas
Doncaster undercard Best Bets
Race 1: INCOGNITO (14)
Trainer: Mick Channon
Jockey: Hollie Doyle
INCOGNITO will be one of the roughies for this competitive nursery that kicks off Ladies Day, but there are grounds to expect a decent run from her. She was a shade unlucky in running on her second outing behind Ananya at Newmarket and wasn’t disgraced in a fillies’ maiden at the Goodwood Festival, before having too much to do when the money was down at Chelmsford on her latest start. She’s getting weight from all but one of her foes.
Race 4: CLOAK OF SPIRITS (5)
Trainer: Richard Hannon
Jockey: Andrea Atzeni
The once raced and unbeaten CLOAK OF SPIRITS looks the one to beat in the Group 2 May Hill Stakes. She meets a handful of similarly well-regarded fillies but when scoring on that Ascot debut could hardly have been more impressive, beating Queen Daenerys three and a half lengths. She’s been in good form at home and went clear of her workmates in her final gallop for this.
Race 5: TANGLED (6)
Trainer: Karen Tutty
Jockey: Gemma Tutty
A former useful juvenile for the Hannons, TANGLED looms on a dangerous mark and could prove a surprise packet in this lady riders’ handicap. His form tailed-off at the end of last year but when making a belated return to action at Redcar he caught the eye putting in some useful work at the business end.
Chepstow Best Bet
Race 4: SKY VEGA (8)
Trainer: Richard Hannon
Jockey: Rossa Ryan
If SKY VEGA can at least match his recent run behind the useful Hariboux at Brighton he should prove hard to beat in what looks a weak novice. Beaten just a length and a quarter by that multiple winner, he saw out the seven furlongs with a strong finish and has a slightly more appealing profile than Magic Twist.
Epsom Best Bet
Race 3: KNOWING (1)
Trainer: James Fanshawe
Jockey: George Wood
Outpointed in what turned out to be a tactical race at Yarmouth last time, KNOWING is holding his form well and can return to winning ways if the front running The Dancing Poet elects to make it a good gallop from the start. The selection has a win and two seconds to his name from his last three starts. That consistency should stand him in good stead and he can assert his superiority on the uphill finish.
