Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing coming your way from Newbury, Newmarket, Doncaster & Chepstow.
NEWBURY
Race 4 IRISH THOROUGHBRED MARKETING GEOFFREY FREER STAKES (Group 3) No4 MORANDO
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Silvestre De Sousa
The key to MORANDO is his liking for soft ground, a factor that is more than likely to materialise granted the summer thunderstorms that are hitting southern England this weekend. He landed a Group 3 in identical conditions here in the autumn of 2018, whilst storming clear of Sextant at the same level in October last year. He should be all the better for his unplaced run on seasonal return behind Fanny Logan in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Race 5: UNIBET HUNGERFORD STAKES (Group 2)
No2 – DREAM OF DREAMS (Nap)
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
Underfoot conditions have come right for DREAM OF DREAMS who is a far better horse when able to get his toe into the ground. The six-year-old served notice that he will be a force over both six and seven furlongs for the rest of the season by running Hello Youmzain to a narrowing head in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot. That form has worked out courtesy of the winner’s good run in defeat in another Group 1 at Deauville last week, while the selection looked in top order blowing out for this on Long Hill on Wednesday.
Race 8: No1 – BRIGHT START
Trainer: Saeed Bin Suroor – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
BRIGHT START lived up to his name with an eye taking run on his debut at Windsor last month. The slow-maturing colt kept on for minor money under an educational ride and will have learned plenty from that experience. He is bred to relish this step up to a mile and a half under the champion jockey.
NEWMARKET
Race 1: No6 – MAGELLAN (Nap)
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: Martin Harley
Though lacking a previous outing, MAGELLAN is a fascinating runner in a novice stakes that promises to throw up a decent winner. The son of champion miler Kingman is out of a half-sister to his owner’s Investec Derby winner Golden Horn. He’s put in some eye-catching preparatory work in Newmarket.
Race 7: No9 – FOLK DANCE
Trainer: David Simcock – Jockey: Callum Shepherd
The lightly-raced FOLK DANCE can avenge her expensive defeat at Yarmouth from what looks an attractive place in the weights for this competitive all-aged handicap. The daughter of Golden Horn went down by just a short head to Dashing Roger when send off odds-on, but is learning from race to race. Although bred to go further in time, she should have the gears to get involved over this mile.
DONCASTER
Race 2: No6 – LIGHT REFRAIN (Each Way)
Trainer: William Haggas – Jockey: Tom Marquand
Easy to back on her Ascot debut last month, LIGHT REFRAIN finished in rear behind Zabeel Queen whilst showing a modicum of promise. The daughter of Frankel is going to be more streetwise for this interesting fillies’ maiden and can get into the shake-up.
Race 5: No12 – TINKER TOY
Trainer: Roger Varian – Jockey: Jack Mitchell
Course and distance scorer TINKER TOY faces a field of mainly much more experienced foes, but he’s at the right end of the handicap to remain unbeaten and complete a fine hat-trick. The son of War Front landed some good bets on debut at Salisbury when coming home unchallenged, and was unbackable for his next start here when again scoring with something up his sleeve. It will be a surprise if he isn’t quite a bit better than he’s already shown.
Race 7: No1 – FULL AUTHORITY (Nap)
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Jack Mitchell
Although having a lengthy absence to overcome, my reports on FULL AUTHORITY suggest he will not lack for fitness on this first outing since May of last year. The Kingman colt disappointed when odds-on for that Sandown Listed race, but has subsequently moved stables and been operated on for a wind ailment. He’s worked with plenty of enthusiasm and can convert on this debut for the in-form Stoute stable.
CHEPSTOW
Race 5: No2 – DECEPTION VALLEY (Each Way)
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: George Bass
If there’s an improver in this maiden it could be DECEPTION VALLEY, who is set to go off a big price on this second career start. The Slade Power gelding has not been without his problems and was beaten a long way on debut at Haydock. That said, he’s learned from the run, and can give a better account against form horses Jumaira Bay and Modmin.
Race 7: No6 – OKSANA ASTANKOVA
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: George Bass
With plenty of rain in the forecast, conditions should be ideal for OKSANA ASTANKOVA, who runs in the same silks as the stable’s useful juvenile Cairn Gorm. She attracted support and kept on well for a frame finish at Windsor last month, having scored on her reappearance at Lingfield. If the rain gets into the ground there should be more to come from her.
