Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Thursday’s racing at Salisbury, Chelmsford, Lingfield, Wolverhampton and Warwick.
Salisbury Best Bet
Race 3: JEANIE B (3)
Trainer: Mick Channon
Jockey: Harry Bentley
Impressor is carded to go off at prohibitive odds for this conditions race but in spite of his good record here the value lies with JEANIE B. She contested a warm heat when second to Ventura Flame at Hamilton on Monday and can draw the 5lb sex allowance. That could give her a valuable edge on Impressor, who looked to have run up light and failed to menace in a Newbury Group 2.
Race 5: MAJESTIC DAWN (5)
Trainer: Paul Cole
Jockey: Rossa Ryan
Another making a quick reappearance is MAJESTIC DAWN who after being solidly supported finished in the money when fifth in Saturday’s Cambridgeshire. Important to this horse is that he’s not going to get taken on for the lead, meaning he should soon get into a rhythm without being hassled. Furthermore the ground and trip are what he wants.
Race 7: WESTBROOK BERTIE (3)
Trainer: Mick Channon
Jockey: Rob Hornby
Dual purpose horse WESTBROOK BERTIE is always best when returning from a break meaning that he should be primed for this slog in easy conditions, his first outing since February. He’s shown a liking for the Salisbury track, and blew away the cobwebs working on a stiff grass gallop on Tuesday.
Chelmsford Best Bets
Race 3: SOUTH COAST (6)
Trainer: Saeed Bin Suroor
Jockey: Oisin Murphy
Connections of likely favourite Baptism reach for first time cheekpieces and preference is for the only filly in the race, SOUTH COAST. She shaped well on her second start at Epsom to chase home Gold Souk and with the benefit of that outing can go one better.
Race 4: AIR FORCE AMY (6)
Trainer: Mick Channon
Jockey: Scott McCullough
AIR FORCE AMY carried my vote when waltzing home at Pontefract where this lop-eared filly relished the cut in the ground. Back on Polytrack, a surface on which she was beaten at 1-7 on her Lingfield reappearance last winter, she can pour scorn on the theory that it doesn’t suit her by following-up in the hands of the apprentice that rode her for her recent victory.
Lingfield Best Bets
Race 3: REINE DE VITESSE (9)
Trainer: Jane Chapple-Hyam
Jockey: John Egan
REINE DE VITESSE began her career stabled in France where she made an eyecatching debut. Having changed yards, she returned at Chelmsford in August where in finishing fourth to Mutamaasik showed that she enjoyed the Polytrack surface. She’s done well in her subsequent training, and can outpoint the equally promising Sheriffmuir.
Wolverhampton Best Bet
Race 3: CHOOSEY (10)
Trainer: Mick Easterby
Jockey: Ger O’Neill
CHOOSEY needs to raise his game but has prospects of doing so coming back from a short break. A wide margin winner at Nottingham last July, he’s not shown much in four outings since changing stables but is better than those efforts suggest. Courtesy of his rider’s 5lb claim he is getting weight from all but one of his foes.
Race 4: MICKEY (4)
Trainer: Tom Dascombe
Jockey: Richard Kingscote
Course and distance scorer MICKEY achieved that three years ago but as a horse that likes to get on with things has to perfect slot in the gate to attain an uncontested lead. He wasn’t disgraced in a better race than this at Chester last month, and having won on his previous start on turf, comes here in good order.
Warwick Best Bets
Race 3: COMMANCHE RED (2)
Trainer: Chris Gordon
Jockey: Tom Cannon
Chasing has always been the destiny of COMMANCHE RED who has schooled with aplomb in his preparation for this debut over fences. Regarded as one of the nicest prospects his trainer has had through his hands, the six-year-old can put this on the board on his seasonal return. A bumper winner at Kempton, he was a dual scorer over hurdles last season when keeping good company in both novice and handicap races.
Race 7: TRUCKERS PASS (9)
Trainer: Philip Hobbs
Jockey: Richard Johnson
TRUCKERS PASS is among a trio of former Point-to-pointers making their debut under NH Rules in this interesting bumper. The five-year-old travelled kindly throughout his only point start in Ireland back in December, only to get mugged on the line. He showed he could handle cut in the ground that day. Now representing top connections, he has pleased in his build up for this.
