Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Thursday’s racing at Chelmsford, Newcastle, Catterick and Leicester.
Chelmsford Best Bet
Race 5: SOCIAL CITY (4)
Trainer: Tony Carroll
Jockey: Franny Norton
Connections of SOCIAL CITY are keen to go down the staying route with the consistent 4yo who improved with racing through a four race 3yo campaign. He showed an affinity for racing up with the pace and is drawn to get into a competitive position early, from which he can counter in the closing stages.
Race 7: BRIGHT MELODY (3)
Trainer: Charlie Appleby
Jockey: Adam Kirby
Jockey bookings indicate BRIGHT MELODY is the main arrow Appleby pulls from his quiver in the concluding novice stakes. The race begs one of the newcomers to deliver the goods as Arabian Moon has had plenty of chances while Bobby The Great needs to step up markedly on past efforts. Bright Melody is by Dubawi out of Lyric Of Light and has shown enough to think he can put down a marker first time up.
Newcastle Best Bets
Race 1: MAURICIO (6)
Trainer: Stella Barclay
Jockey: Cam Hardie
With a high win to run ratio MAURICIO is worth siding with for his small stable. The 6yo looks as if he’s crying out for this two miles, as he finished with gusto to trouble the judge over shorter at Wolverhampton last month. A 50-1 shot that day, I again expect him to start as one of the roughies in this.
Race 4: DARK REGARD (1)
Trainer: Mark Johnston
Jockey: Joe Fanning
DARK REGARD has been a good servant to us and can make this her fourth win on the bounce. She keeps defying the handicapper and taking stock of the way her trainer’s horses can keep improving, another triumph is a strong possibility in what’s sure to develop into a tactical race.
Catterick Best Bet
Race 2: PIXIEPOT (5)
Trainer: Peter Niven
Jockey: Brian Hughes
PIXIEPOT comes here in favour of a trip to Newcastle and makes plenty of appeal following two encouraging runs that have brought the 10yo to the boil. The selection started at 28-1 when chasing home Slaine at Southwell last month but will not be one of the roughies in this admittedly competitive mares’ handicap hurdle. She’s fully fit and has the north’s leading rider on her back.
Leicester Best Bets
Race 1: BONNE QUESTION (3)
Trainer: Venetia Williams
Jockey: Charlie Deutsch
Although her horses have gone slightly off the boil the veteran BONNE QUESTION looks the way to go in a very winnable handicap chase. After needing his first run back he made a bold attempt to lead throughout at Lingfield, only to be collared approaching the final fence. On this third outing he should be cherry ripe to deliver on a course that suits front runners.
Race 5: QUANTUM OF SOLACE (1)
Trainer: Fergal O’Brien
Jockey: Paddy Brennan
Consistency was the strong suit of QUANTUM OF SOLACE last year and with his stable in full flow the 10yo takes the eye despite having a welter burden in this handicap chase. He’s a free going sort for whom the track, trip and ground are all ticked.