Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Sunday’s racing taking place at Goodwood, Deauville, Yarmouth and Perth.
GOODWOOD
Race 2 No6 POPE GREGORY (Each Way)
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: George Bass
In a race this trainer has harvested over the years, POPE GREGORY can raise his game upped in trip, having finished around five lengths off the winner Treaty Of Dingle in a Lingfield claimer earlier in the week. The grey didn’t take much out of himself in that mile and a furlong contest and can go well at a working man’s price.
Race 4 No1 CHAIRMANOFTHEBOARD (Nap)
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Rob Hornby
Course winner CHAIRMANOFTHEBOARD finished second in his group but fifth overall in the Stewards’ Cup to confirm how effective he has become as a sprinter. Winner Summerghand was the only one in front of him amongst a posse of horses, and the four-year-old can now compete off the same mark. In similarly easy conditions he scored by eight lengths on his debut here two years ago and successes at Windsor and Newmarket this season illustrate that he’s operating near the top of his capabilities.
Race 6 LADBROKES SUPREME STAKES (Group 3)
No7 CLOAK OF SPIRITS
Trainer: Richard Hannon – Jockey: Andrea Atzeni
Three-year-old filly CLOAK OF SPIRITS cops all the allowances in this fascinating feature. Bred to revel in the testing conditions she’ll encounter, she can take advantage of a welcome class drop, having performed with credit in Group 1 company when second to Love in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket. She wasn’t disgraced on her next start behind Alpine Star in the Coronation Stakes, and has subsequently placed in a Group 3 at Epsom and a Group 3 at Deauville.
YARMOUTH
Race 1 No1 LUCID DREAMER (Nap)
Trainer: Roger Charlton – Jockey: Jason Watson
LUCID DREAMER is a filly with abundant potential and worth backing to defy a penalty for her impressive debut win. In that Kempton contest the daughter of Dansili powered clear of Last Sunset. She will have learned a lot from the experience, and on pedigree wont mind the cut in the ground on this switch to grass.
Race 2 No8 IVADREAM
Trainer: Roger Charlton – Jockey: Jason Watson
The Charlton/Watson combination may be worth following again, with IVADREAM equipped better than most in the field to handle the conditions. Furthermore, after scoring on his Windsor return he’s posted a couple of solid efforts in defeat.
Race 7 No6 RED CARPET QUEEN
Trainer: George Scott – Jockey: Hollie Doyle
RED CARPET QUEEN showed nothing in her first three starts but on handicap debut raised her game to trouble the judge at Wolverhampton. A tongue strap part brought about that improvement, and in a poor race she can build on it.
PERTH
Race 2 No4 STONER’S CHOICE (Nap)
Trainer: Fergal O’Brien – Jockey: Max Kendrick
Warwick bumper winner STONER’S CHOICE was highly tried in similar races at Chepstow and Ascot after switching stables. His new handler has had more time to get to know him, and improvement is anticipated on this jumps debut for which the gelding has schooled well.
Race 5 No2 AS YOU LIKE
Trainer: Jonjo O’Neill – Jockey: Jonjo O’Neill Jr
The featured Perth Gold Cup is predictably competitive but under a 4lb penalty for his resounding comeback success at Southwell, AS YOU LIKE looks the one to be on. He was always in control for that wide margin triumph over Mr Mafia, and if in the same mood can outpoint fellow recent scorers Imada and Fortunes Hiding.
DEAUVILLE
Race 5 LUCIEN BARRIERE GRAND PRIX De DEAUVILLE (Group 2)
No1 RED VERDON
Trainer: Ed Dunlop – Jockey: Pierre-Charles Boudot
Dunlop has excelled with the staying horses he’s trained for this owner and RED VERDON is shaping into a smart performer with Listed and Group 2 triumphs on his last two outings. The world traveller has had two shots at the Caulfield Cup in Australia and the Hong Kong Vase, but he’s looking a more rounded performer at the age of seven, and showed with his success over Called To The Bar in a first-time visor at Longchamp that he’s never been better. Last year’s winner of this race Ziyad will have his followers, but his stable is badly out of form, and it might be left to the Hughie Morrison-trained Telecaster to give the selection most to think about.
Prediction: 1st RED VERDON, 2nd Telecaster, 3rd Ziyad
