Neil Morrice best bets and tips – Friday 29 March 2024

LINGFIELD PARK

Race 2 No7 BYSTANDER (Nap)
Trainer: Karl Burke – Jockey: Brandon Wilkie

BYSTANDER had been heavily supported on all three of his career starts before gaining a first success for his trainer as a 9-2 shot on handicap debut at this course with Wilkie in his saddle. The combination appreciated stepping up to a mile and a quarter and were never more on top than at the finishing line. There should be more to come from the lightly-raced selection as long as he can circumnavigate his outside draw.

Race 4 No3 AQWAAM (Each Way)
Trainer: Ian Williams – Jockey: Oisin Orr

AQWAAM is the go-to horse in another sizzling handicap as he bids to halt a sequence of near misses. The grey has been campaigned exclusively at Wolverhampton during 2024 but the record shows he ran well on his only previous visit here in the autumn of 2023. This course with its short home straight should play to his strengths – he just needs the rub of the green in the final furlong.

Race 6 No11 TWIRLER (Each Way)
Trainer: Charlie Fellowes – Jockey: Harry Davies

Cable Bay filly TWIRLER has looked progressive in taking out a Newcastle novice and a Wolverhampton handicap to suggest she can cope with a step up the class ladder with a new jockey in her irons. Quandary could be the one to cause her problems, and is respected on her long journey from North Yorkshire to contest this fillies’ handicap.

NEWCASTLE

Race 2 No5 SPARTAN ARMY (Each Way)
Trainer: Alan King – Jockey: David Probert

SPARTAN ARMY possesses the happy knack of being able to win by small margins, making it harder for the assessor to keep tabs on him. In completing a fine hat-trick from Palace Boy he looked as good as ever, and is taken to confirm his superiority even though his foe enjoys a 7lb pull in the weights.

Race 3 No4 BLUE PRINCE (Each Way)
Trainer: David Evans – Jockey: Cam Hardie

Blue Point colt BLUE PRINCE has established himself as a force to be reckoned with in three-year-old handicaps this year. He’s arguably unfortunate not to have triumphed in his last four outings, and granted getting some racing real estate in the closing stages can repeat his course and distance success of December.

Race 5 No9 SUMMERGHAND (Each Way)
Trainer: David O’Meara – Jockey: Rossa Ryan

This is a wickedly competitive sprint but gives SUMMERGHAND the chance to demonstrate that he’s no back number. The now ten-year-old indicated with a narrow defeat by Chipstead at Lingfield that he’s on the way back, and though reopposes by that foe is weighted to turn the tables. Fivethousandtoone and Batak Dubai are others to factor into exotic wagering on this race.

Race 7 No5 SYMBOL OF LIGHT (Nap)
Trainer: Julie Camacho – Jockey: Ryan Sexton

SYMBOL OF LIGHT has proved a canny purchase as a Godolphin castoff and should arguably have won each of his last two starts at Newcastle and Kempton. He needs to be delivered with precision timing, and if Sexton can get that right the combination can swoop to conquer in the popular silks of Martin Hughes.

CHELMSFORD CITY

Race 4 No11 V POWER (Each Way)
Trainer: Debbie Faulkner – Jockey: Dougie Costello

V POWER produced a first worthwhile glimpse of ability when second on debut for his handler at Kempton. That narrow defeat was the selection’s first run on sand since arriving in England out of Joseph O’Brien’s yard. If he takes to Tapeta in the same way, the four-year-old can go one better.

Race 5 No6 HIGHFIELD VIKING (Each Way)
Trainer: John Quinn – Jockey: Jason Hart

In what has been a tricky few days for Quinn, HIGHFIELD VIKING can give the trainer a needed boost with success in this bottom-grade handicap. The selection was frustratingly pipped in photo finishes at Catterick and Ayr, and is so inexperienced on the all-weather that he might have more to offer.

Place Accumulator Perm (Races 1-7)

1, 5 x 3, 9, 8 x 4, 5 x 11, 5, 4 x 6, 9 x 11, 10 x 3, 7

R288