Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Thursday’s racing at Haydock, Sandown, Newcastle, Brighton and Yarmouth.
Haydock Best Bet
Race 6: RAKE’S PROGRESS (10)
Trainer: Heather Main
Jockey: Andrea Atzeni
The lightly-raced RAKE’S PROGRESS started high up in the betting for a big handicap at Carlisle but was hampered when making his charge, after which his jockey accepted the situation. He’s been given plenty of time to recover from those exertions and I fancy him to bounce back for an outfit that do well with their long-distance travellers out of Lambourn.
Sandown Best Bets
Race 2: MASTER McGRATH (3)
Trainer: Kevin Ryan
Jockey: Kevin Scott
Having been heavily backed on his Ayr debut, only to find Dick Datchery too strong, MASTER McGRATH makes the long haul from North Yorkshire and is not doing so just for the goodness of his health. The colt spoiled his chance by running green in Scotland but has learned much from the experience and should be sharp enough to land a hotly contested maiden.
Race 6: QUARRY BEACH(6)
Trainer: Henry Candy
Jockey: Charles Bishop
After several near misses QUARRY BEACH can finally deliver. She likes this course as demonstrated when she got going too late to catch Eligible over tonight’s mile. In hindsight, she might have given her foes too much rope and I expect her to be closer to the action turning for home this time.
Newcastle Best Bets
Race 1: KING OF NAPLES (1)
Trainer: Ruth Carr
Jockey: Harry Russell
KING OF NAPLES seeks compensation for a hapless run at Wolverhampton where his bid to gallop past rivals in the short home straight was ended when he met interference just over a furlong out. Now back on the same Tapeta surface, he carries top weight but can still prove more than a match for them in a race where most of the field have been out of form.
Race 3: ST IVES (1)
Trainer: William Haggas
Jockey: Danny Tudhope
ST IVES did himself a favour when scoring by the shortest of short heads at Doncaster, meaning the handicapper had less room for manoeuvre in his assessment of the colt when affording him an opening mark. He now finds himself opposed by just two rivals and should take their measure on the way to better things.
Brighton Best Bets
Race 3: PICKETT’S CHARGE (8)
Trainer: Brian Ellison
Jockey: Megan Nicholls
Long-distance traveller PICKETT’S CHARGE takes the eye with a good lady rider booked and can gain a long-overdue success. He acquitted himself well when third to Redama at Carlisle on Monday and is well treated on his best form of last season. He’s dropping back on the distance ladder on a different track but has the balance and brawn to act on these cambers.
Race 4: RAVENOUS (5)
Trainer: Luke Dace
Jockey: Poppy Bridgwater
At likely big double figure odds RAVENOUS is worth a punt, with quiet confidence emanating from his small stable. He got squeezed out in a better race at Ascot last time, only to stay on again at the finish, and showed on a couple of occasions earlier in the season that he’s got a race of this nature in him. Several of his rivals might seem in better form, but I fancy him to earn with a frame finish.
Yarmouth Best Bets
Race 4: ALL RIGHT (12)
Trainer: Henry Candy
Jockey: Harry Bentley
ALL RIGHT can flatter to deceive, but there wasn’t much wrong with her near-miss at Lingfield last time and this isn’t the hottest contest of its type. Her trainer rarely sends his horses this far, and on the assumption, he means business All Right can open her account with Percy Toplis looking her main danger.
Race 6: QUARRY BEACH (8)
Trainer: Chris Kellett
Jockey: Callum Shepherd
Shepherd is an underestimated rider who can get a tune out of DECONSO in a weak race. The selection usually travels sweetly and is better than he showed when unplaced at Chepstow last time. Sure to be amongst the roughies in the betting, he can raise his came to get into the shake up.
