Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Thursday’s racing at Newmarket, Pontefract and Chelmsford.
Newmarket Best Bet
Race 2: MILLTOWN STAR (2)
Trainer: Mick Channon
Jockey: Gerald Mosse
Conditions should be perfect for MILLTOWN STAR to step up on his strong finishing run at the Curragh. In that Sales race, he was slightly outpaced on the wrong side of the track but kept on steadily to finish just out of the money behind Stone Circle. He comes here in favour of a race in France and is in very good order.
Race 4: MANIGORDO (2)
Trainer: Richard Hannon
Jockey: Pat Dobbs
This is a step up the ladder for MANIGORDO who weaved his way through rivals to post a frame finish in a valuable Sales race at Doncaster. He’s well regarded by his trainer, and although still, a maiden after three attempts is not out of his depth in this Group 3. His rivals include stablemate Oh Purple Reign but I fancy MANIGORDO to go well at a big price.
Pontefract Best Bets
Race 2: WALKONBY (6)
Trainer: Mick Channon
Jockey: Graham Lee
Getting weight from all five of her opponents, WALKONBY rates a good bet to regain the winning thread. She landed quite a touch in a Newmarket seller, followed up in a novice and ran a cracker in a hot nursery at Thirsk in which she did a bit too much on the pace and weakened in the final furlong. She should no be hindered by any easing of ground conditions and is in very good order for this.
Race 3: MARK’S CHOICE (7)
Trainer: Ruth Carr
Jockey: James Sullivan
Under the shrewd handling of his trainer, MARK’S CHOICE is competing off a rating that should see him add to his gains of earlier in the year. He ran a cracker to finish just out of the money in a hot handicap at Doncaster when finishing well after spending the first half of the contest in the rear. He will require a bit of luck at the finish, but if getting the breaks has a strong Win and Place chance.
Race 7: AIR FORCE AMY (4)
Trainer: Mick Channon
Jockey: Scott McCullough
The lop-eared AIR FORCE AMY is too good to remain a maiden for long and has been in good form in her preparatory work for this. She looks for all the world like a filly that is going to be happier going further and if the underfoot conditions ride on the easy side it shouldn’t worry her.
Chelmsford Best Bets
Race 7: LOVEHEART (12)
Trainer: Michael Bell
Jockey: Callum Shepherd
For a daughter of an Investec Oaks winner, LOVEHEART hasn’t shown much to date, but the move into handicaps can prove the making of her. The daughter of Love Divine finished last of four on her latest outing over course and distance but she’s been afforded a mark that presents plenty of room for manoeuvre if she’s better than she’s shown, which is likely.
