Neil Morrice best bets and tips – Friday 15 September 2023

DONCASTER ST LEGER FESTIVAL DAY 2 BEST BETS FRIDAY

Race 2 No4 KINGDOM OF RICHES
Trainer: Ralph Beckett – Jockey: Rossa Ryan

This interesting Listed prize features nine horses that were successful on their latest starts, with course and distance scorer WAR ROOMS likely to head the market. The Churchill colt makes plenty of appeal, as does LOCAL HERO who streaked home on his own introduction at Kempton. One that could prove their match is KINGDOM OF RICHES. The son of Acclamation backed up a near miss at Ascot by stylishly opening his account at Leicester. I think wherever he finishes it will be close to Local Hero, and suggest using them as a frontispiece to all exotic permutations.

Race 3 CARLSBERG DANISH PILSNER FLYING CHILDERS STAKES (Group 3)

No10 ZOULU CHIEF (Each Way)
Trainer: Heather Main – Jockey: Gina Mangan

ZOULU CHIEF proved a good friend to us when making all in a hot nursery at York and is a colt that seems to be getting better with racing. This doesn’t look the hottest Flying Childers of recent times and I’m willing to give him the chance to build on what he’s already achieved. The ones that can cause him most problems are Molecomb Stakes hero BIG EVS and the progressive FOOL’S GOLD. Big Evs couldn’t cut the mustard taking on his elders in the Group 1 Nunthorpe but can bounce back. Fool’s Gold was a smooth scorer when heavily supported at Windsor, and should have more to offer.

Race 4 BETFRED DONCASTER CUP (Group 2)

No2 BROOME (Nap)
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien – Jockey: Ryan Moore

A small but select field for the day’s feature which is likely to be run on ground on the easy side of good. It’s a fair playing field but one thing that jumps out is that four of the five contenders are hold up horses. COLTRANE gained a deserved success in the Lonsdale at York while SWEET WILLIAM found only Absurde his master in the Ebor. Horses that run well in that historic contest are usually worthy of a jump into Pattern company, as the Sea The Stars gelding does here. TRUESHAN seems more dependent than ever on getting his favoured cut in the ground as he gets older, but is hugely respected returning from a four month absence. Coolmore stalwart BROOME then emerges as the only one that could be comfortable in setting the fractions. This ploy has been ruthlessly executed by Quickthorn in a couple of Cup races this year, and on this big galloping track Broome might benefit from an enterprising ride. Recent evidence suggests he’s not getting any better, but he’s been written off before at his detractors’ peril.

Prediction: 1st BROOME, 2nd Trueshan, 3rd Coltrane, 4th Sweet William

Race 5 No1 REAL DREAM
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Ryan Moore

REAL DREAM had to use up plenty of petrol in the early stages of the Ebor and after tracking across to lead the field into the straight was a spent force much earlier than his supporters could have imagined. It was galling to them that the winner Absurde was drawn alongside him and had to execute an identical plan, but I’m prepared to give the Stoute top weight another chance. It’s the only proper blemish on his record at four, and the smaller field should help him operate more effectively. The one that looks as a big danger is BAGUE D’OR, who was a very good handicapper when with now retired Chris Wall and who made a most encouraging return to the fray on debut for James Ferguson when second in the Sky Bet Handicap at York. He needs to be included at the forefront of trifectas and quartets.

Race 6 No3 CHERRY
Trainer: Ralph Beckett – Jockey: Ryan Moore

Beckett is double-handed in this hard to call fillies’ handicap but the one with more to offer could well be CHERRY, a beautifully-bred daughter of Dubawi out of a mare by Frankel. The selection had had a few chances before opening her account in a Goodwood maiden, but that can prove a spur for further success as it seems to have boosted her confidence.