Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips from Beverley, Chepstow, and Kempton Park on Tuesday 23 June 2020.
Beverley Best Bets
Race 4: No4 – VELMA
Trainer: Chris Fairhurst – Jockey: Jason Hart
A win for VELMA would be most deserving after her agonising near-misses at Newcastle in March, and at Beverley two weeks ago. She failed by a short head to resist Old Harbour on that return to turf following a 100-day absence, and it should have blown away any cobwebs to make her the one to beat.
Race 5: No2 – MANZO DURO
Trainer: David O’Meara – Jockey: Danny Tudhope
The benefits of a gelding operation shone through when MANZO DURO was narrowly denied on his return to the track at Doncaster last week. The lightly-raced selection had been off since the beginning of October and can repel the dangerous-looking challenge of Old Harbour for whom Velma can provide a form line in the previous race.
Race 6: No6 – LIGHTNESS (Nap)
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: Rab Havlin
A Royal victory to follow that of Tactical at Ascot last week looks the order of the day for LIGHTNESS. The daughter of Shamardal finished third on debut in a Wolverhampton race last November that’s working out, the winner Waliyak having finished second in the Sandringham at Royal Ascot. She then went down on a head bob to Shatha at Kempton and is all set to deliver.
Race 8: No8 – OUR CHARLIE BROWN
Trainer: Adrian Keatley – Jockey: PJ McDonald
OUR CHARLIE BROWN acquitted himself well on debut for Keatley when third at Chelmsford and can build on that. He’s running on turf for the first time in ten months but has come on for his first run back, while the stiff uphill finish should play to his strengths.
Chepstow Best Bets
Race 1: No1 – UNDER CURFEW
Trainer: Tony Carroll – Jockey: Tom Marquand
This can go to the industrious UNDER CURFEW, who since returning from lockdown has put in two solid efforts in defeat on the Kempton Polytrack. On this first turf run for ten months he can endorse the well being of his trainer’s horses by thwarting recent scorer Bluebell Time.
Race 4: No2 – MARSHAL DAN (Nap)
Trainer: Heather Main – Jockey: Rossa Ryan
MARSHAL DAN travelled strongly into the race before finishing second to Hieronymus at Kempton earlier this month with the pair pulling clear. With his fitness levels escalated for that effort against a fast-improving foe, he’ll be spot on for this drop back in trip on a switch to turf.
Race 7: No1 – LIMELIGHTER
Trainer: Sheena West – Jockey: Hector Crouch
West does well with cast-offs from the Mick Channon yard and LIMELIGHTER is a good example. While not the easiest to train, the top weight has done well under both racing codes for his trainer, winning over hurdles and coming back to trot up at Windsor last week. It makes sense for connections to try to strike while the iron’s hot, and he can defy a 5lb penalty.
Kempton Park Best Bets
Race 1: No8 – VILLE DE GRACE
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Ryan Moore
While not renowned for sending out precocious two-year-olds, Stoute could have the answer to this with VILLE DE GRACE, his first runner from that division of his operation. The daughter of popular stallion Le Havre has shown sufficient to show a clean pair of heels to her foes.
Race 4: No5 – DUBAI QUALITY
Trainer: Saeed Bin Suroor – Jockey: Pat Cosgrave
Combined will be all the rage for this granted she finished third to Royal Ascot winner Frankly Darling on debut last year. However, she may have to play second fiddle to DUBAI QUALITY. That daughter of Dubawi was turned over at 4-9 on the Wolverhampton Tapeta in December but has done well subsequently.
Race 5: No4 – DREAM ROUND
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
DREAM ROUND has the points on the board in terms of experience and can stave off the challenge of a couple of well-related newcomers. The selection, a daughter of Gleneagles, was easy to back when fourth to Streak Lightning on reappearance at Wolverhampton. She’s gone forward for that but needs to step lively to beat Midday’s half-sister Sun Tide and the $800,000 purchase Aureum.
Race 6: No3 – RIVER DAWN (Nap)
Trainer: Paul Cole – Jockey: Luke Morris
From a good draw, RIVER DAWN can regain the winning thread. The dual Lingfield scorer made a bold fist in his hat- trick attempt at Pontefract to go down fighting and beaten just half a length into third. As that came after a four months break there’s every chance he will improve for the run.
