Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips from Haydock Park and Chelmsford City on Tuesday 9 June 2020.
Haydock Park Best Bets
Race 3: No1 – ARCTIC VEGA
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
The form of ARCTIC VEGA’s debut success at Kempton is working out, with the third home landing a gamble on his handicap debut. Arctic Vega remains in novice company and will be hard to beat for a stable landing all before it. The half-brother to Group 3 winner Chilean looks one to follow and can take this in his stride.
Race 7: No1 – BRIAN EPSTEIN
Trainer: Richard Hannon – Jockey: Sean Levey
This all-aged handicap sees the return from more than a year off of BRIAN EPSTEIN. The Dark Angel colt showed abundant promise in his first two seasons racing only to go under the radar with a stomach ailment after an impressive second career triumph at Musselburgh. Since returning to full work he’s impressed his trainer, and has a good chance of continuing from where he left off.
Race 8: No3 – BEAUTIFUL ILLUSION
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: James Doyle
Godolphin are unleashing some impeccably-bred horses on handicap debuts and in this fillies’ only contest it will take something smart to lower the colours of BEAUTIFUL ILLUSION. The daughter of Shamardal looked the part in her all-weather successes at Wolverhampton and Chelmsford last winter and can show she’s one to follow on the switch to turf, readying herself for one of the races at Royal Ascot.
Chelmsford City Best Bets
Race 3: No4 – SOVEREIGN GRANT
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Ryan Moore
This should result in a ‘hats off’ triumph for SOVEREIGN GRANT, owned by The Queen. The Kingman colt went onto the sidelines after suffering a leg fracture 18 months ago and has been diligently nursed back by his trainer. He was a most impressive winner of a Kempton maiden before those adverse developments, and since coming back into full work has more than held his own with some decent tackle. He will not need the run, and can deliver on the way to better things.
Race 4: No9 – VILLAIN’S VOICE
Trainer: Roger Varian – Jockey: David Egan
Mayson colt VILLAIN’S VOICE showed abundant promise when third on his debut at Yarmouth last August and can take out this novice median auction at the main expense of Portungueseprincess. That penalised filly will be hard to beat but the selection has scope for bags of improvement and has been working well.
Race 5: No4 – SACRED DANCE
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: William Buick
With an unexposed profile SACRED DANCE rates a major player for Godolphin in this three-year-old handicap. Turned over by the smart Rhea on debut when odds-on for a novice at Haydock, she made no mistake next time when again odds-on at Doncaster. She’s bred to enjoy this step up to a mile and is the subject of encouraging reports from HQ.
Leopardstown Best Bets
Race 3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial (Group 3): No4 – IBERIA
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien – Jockey: Wayne Lordan
IBERIA looks the best of Aidan O’Brien’s three runners as racing behind closed doors is established in Ireland. The Derrinstown is regarded as the best of that country’s trials for Epsom, and in first-time blinkers Iberia has arguably stronger credentials than stablemates Russian Emperor and Cormorant as the trainer seeks a 14th win in the contest. The Galileo colt experienced a busy juvenile campaign, with his third to stablemate Royal Dornoch in the Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket the highlight. Lordan partnered the selection on his final 2019 outing when runner-up in a Group 3 at this course, and he should greatly enjoy this step up from seven furlongs to a mile and a quarter. Russian Emperor was having only a second career start when opening his account in a Naas maiden in March and is also going to enjoy greater emphasis on stamina. Agitare is closely matched with Cormorant on juvenile form but is the one most likely to cause Ballydoyle’s ‘Big Two’ most problems.
Prediction: 4-5-1-3
Race 4 Leopardstown Fillies Trial (Group 3): No10 – LOVE LOCKET
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien – Jockey: Jamie Heffernan
With 15 set to go to post, this has a far more competitive look than the colts’ trial. Of the trio Aidan O’Brien fields, LOVE LOCKET could prove the pick. She was a late-developing two-year-old whose form picked up in the autumn and early winter. She broke her maiden at Naas in October before chasing home In From The Cold in a seven furlongs handicap at the same course. The daughter of No Nay Never remains at seven furlongs and can earn a shot at the Coronation Stakes. Tango wasn’t disgraced even though out of the money when last seen at the Santa Anita Breeders’ Cup. She ran into some top not hers last year, including Millisle and Love, and can get into the shake-up along with Peace Charter, whose form when second to Albigna in a Group 2 at the Curragh is up with the best on offer. However, she disappointed on her final 2019 start when returning lame, and needs to put that behind her. At bigger prices both Celestial Object and Know It All have chances. It would be no surprise to see them involved.
Prediction: 10-14-11-4
