Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips from Sunday’s racing coming your way from Deauville, Sandown Park, Leicester, and Newcastle.
DEAUVILLE
Race 2: Prix De Cabourg – No 2 CAIRN GORM
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Tom Marquand
CAIRN GORM has looked the part in his two outings to date, landing some good bets on debut at Windsor before rallying to defy a penalty at Newbury. The form from each of those races hasn’t worked out that well, but the Bated Breath colt has strengthened up and continued to win his gallops at home. He has a good temperament to take into his first outing overseas and has developed a good understanding with the upwardly mobile Marquand. Mighty Gurkha looks sure to pose problems to the selection, having chased home the impressive Method in a Listed race at Newbury, while Prince Lancelot looks the best of the home contingent following a snug debut triumph at Saint-Cloud. Axdavali has Group race form to bring to the table, with a third in a Group 3 at Longchamp and fourth in the Rio Robert Papin at Chantilly. That said, he was beaten 30 lengths last time, with something clearly amiss.
Prediction
1st CAIRN GORM
2nd Mighty Gurkha
3rd Prince Lancelot
4th Axdavali
Race 4 Prix Rothschild (Group 1) – No1 WATCH ME
Trainer: Francis Graffard – Jockey: Pierre-Charles Boudot
Last year’s Coronation Stakes winner WATCH ME can prove a popular winning favourite of the first major race of the Deauville Festival. The daughter of Olympic Glory easily delivered on her reappearance in a Listed race over course and distance last month and showed little sign of rustiness as she dispatched Norma by two and a half lengths. It was her first outing since finishing third to Villa Marina in a Group 1 at Longchamp on Arc day and proves she’s poised for another bountiful season.
Summer Romance returned to put away a Group 3 at Epsom and is living up to the plaudits always held for her by trainer Charlie Appleby. However, the Godolphin-owned filly requires another big step up If she is to win this. Speak Of The Devil is proven here and should give it a good shot for trainer Fabrice Chappet. She was inches behind a Dream And Do in the Pouliches (French 1,000 Guineas) in early June, and not disgraced in the French Oaks in which she didn’t stay. German Group 2 winner Half Light is still an unknown quantity and the joker in the pack, while Johnny Murtagh’s runner Know It All also needs respecting.
Prediction
1st WATCH ME
2nd Half Light
3rd Speak Of The Devil
4th Summer Romance
SANDOWN PARK
Race 1: No2 – INDIAN RAJ (Nap)
Trainer: Stuart Williams – Jockey: James Doyle
Williams is going through a purple patch with his sprint handicappers and has done particularly well with his runners at this course. He has a solid candidate in INDIAN RAJ, who was a beaten favourite in a Class four over the same track and trip last time. He’s closely matched with King Robert but can turn the tables on that rival.
Race 2: No3 – GREYSTOKE (Each Way)
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Martin Harley
Channon knows all about the family of GREYSTOKE as he stands the colt’s sire Sixties Icon and trained the dam’s sire Atlantic Sport. Although up against some of the top stables, his runner can give a good account. He’s displayed a good temperament in his training ahead of this racecourse debut and will not be disgraced.
Race 5: No8 – RHYME SCHEME (Each Way)
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Silvestre De Sousa
RHYME SCHEME did too much too soon and saw too much daylight on her latest start in a Yarmouth maiden. The Poet’s Voice filly jumps back into a handicap and is likely to be ridden with greater restraint. This isn’t the most competitive of races, and she can get into the shake-up.
LEICESTER
Race 1: No7 – SOFT WHISPER
Trainer: Saeed bin Suroor – Jockey: Harry Bentley
Godolphin is three-handed in the opener but SOFT WHISPER is the one to be on. The beautifully bred filly is by Dubawi out of a Sea The Stars mare and kept on in eye taking style to finish second on her debut at Salisbury. She should be better for that, sufficiently so to thwart class dropper Clarendon Cross, who finished down the field in a race at Royal Ascot.
Race 3: No4 – ONE STEP TOO FAR
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: George Bass
There’s been a dearth of sellers and claimers since the resumption of racing which isn’t good for the sport. So it’s welcoming to see one of the first-named races on this card. ONE STEP TOO FAR is hard to weigh up, as he hasn’t raced in public, but he’s done enough to suggest he can be competitive.
Race 4: No7 – MILLIONAIRE WALTZ (Each Way)
Trainer: Paul Cole – Jockey: Sean Levey
Although finishing last on his return to action at this course, MILLIONAIRE WALTZ was beaten just over five lengths by King Ragnar. He was easy to back, suggesting the outing was needed. He’d been off for seven months and could be a lot fitter and wiser now.
Race 7: No6 – BRING THE MONEY
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: George Bass
BRING THE MONEY had been in the stalls a long time before the field was finally dispatched after two horses delayed the start at Ripon. Consequently, he ducked right and almost dislodged his pilot when the stalls opened. It cost him momentum and in the circumstances, he did well to go down by just a head to the well supported Not On Your Nellie. It was only his second race on grass, and he can improve.
NEWCASTLE
Race 5: No5 – JASH (Nap)
Trainer: Simon Crisford – Jockey: Graham Lee
If JASH is on his A-game following a lengthy absence he will outclass his foes in a conditions race that’s been transferred from Doncaster. Two years ago he looked a Classic prospect when chasing home Ten Sovereigns in the Middle Park Stakes, but since finishing sixth to Advertise in the 2019 Commonwealth Cup has undergone wind surgery, while he also gets a first-time tongue-tie. He may be rusty after more than 400 days off but is sufficiently forward to prevail.
Race 6: No1 – GALATA BRIDGE
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Jim Crowley
GALATA BRIDGE won easily in spite of things not working out in the race for him on his first attempt at this mile and a half at Wolverhampton. He cosily dispatched Thai Power, who then ran well in defeat in a better race at Sandown. There should be plenty more to come from the half-brother to Group 1 winner Veracious.
