Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Friday’s racing coming your way from Newmarket, Ascot, York, Chester and Chepstow on 12 July 2024.
NEWMARKET
Race 1 No9 SUN GOD
Trainer: Hughie Morrison – Jockey: Sean D Bowen
SUN GOD finished second to a horse who ran well at Royal Ascot after opening his account on a final outing of 2023. He has an upwardly mobile apprentice taking 3lb off his back, and may show further progression from a gelding operation and justify the switch from his intended race at Sandown.
Race 2 DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE STAKES (Group 2)
No8 MIGHTY ERIU (Each Way)
Trainer: Gavin Cromwell – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
Ireland could dominate this 1200 metres Pattern race and though HEAVENS GATE brings very solid credentials to the table the same can be said for MIGHTY ERIU. Heavens Gate posted a solid effort to finish third in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot on her third outing but my selection was also prominent at that meeting when finishing second in the Queen Mary. The Inns Of Court filly has already run over this trip and should benefit from a return to it for Cromwell, who can add to his good record with runners in England.
Race 4 TATTERSALLS FALMOUTH STAKES (Group 1)
No7 PORTA FORTUNA (Nap)
Trainer: Donnacha O’Brien – Jockey: Ryan Moore
PORTA FORTUNA sets a high standard based on her success in the Coronation Stakes and can play her part in making it a red letter day for the Irish. The Caravaggio filly came home a length clear from Opera Singer whose jockey is now on her own back. Winner of the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes last autumn and second at the Santa Anita Breeders’ Cup, she has the profile of a top-class performer and should have the whip hand over Duke Of Cambridge Stakes winner Running Lion.
ASCOT
Race 2 No1 BERKSHIRE KAMEO (Nap)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: David Probert
Kameko colt BERKSHIRE KAMEO went down in a blanket finish at Windsor after two good efforts in defeat at Grade 1 courses. With his attention now turned to juvenile handicaps he can defy top weight at the main expense of the filly New Charter.
Race 6 No4 FRESH
Trainer: James Fanshawe – Jockey: Pat Dobbs
FRESH boasts very good form at this track and very much has the appeal of a winner waiting to happen. The jury is out as to whether this 1200 metres is his optimum trip these days, but the return to a smaller field could help him gain an overdue success.
YORK
Race 2 WILLIAM HILL SUMMER STAKES (Group 3)
No5 UNEQUAL LOVE (Nap)
Trainer: William Haggas – Jockey: Tom Marquand
UNEQUAL LOVE made it two wins from three starts when edging home in the Wokingham and this multiple scorer should prove very hard to beat returned to Group company. She was a Listed scorer on the Rowley course at the Guineas meeting, and could be the type to considerably bolster her trainer’s winning sheet through the summer as she looks for a seventh success in only 11 career starts.
Race 4 No9 WHISKEY PETE (Each Way)
Trainer: Ralph Beckett – Jockey: Hector Crouch
WHISKEY PETE is taking time to endorse the promise he showed as a juvenile when he ended the campaign with a first success at this track. There were signs of elevation on his latest outing at Ascot, and after finishing just out of the money that day further progression looks on the cards.
CHESTER
Race 4 No5 BODORGAN
Trainer: Charlie Hills – Jockey: Callum Rodriguez
BODORGAN was a worthy winner at Windsor when showing improvement for a step up to a mile and a quarter. The grey then narrowly failed to go back-to-back at Haydock and is clearly in his comfort zone over the longer trip. For a trainer whose family love saddling winners on the Roodee, he can stave off the challenge of So Deuce.
Race 5 No4 NATIVE KING (Nap)
Trainer: Hugo Palmer – Jockey: Paul Mulrennan
NATIVE KING represents a stable that rarely leaves the course empty-handed and looks its best chance of a winner on the night. The Kingman colt was making his debut out of Manor Farm Stables when opening his account on a first run on turf at this course last month, and there should be more to come from him on this second run in a handicap.
CHEPSTOW
Race 2 No7 INVINCIBLE CROWN
Trainer: Richard Hughes – Jockey: Finley Marsh
INVINCIBLE CROWN is a short favourite for this 1200 metres-restricted maiden but deserves to be. The Inns Of Court colt has earned in each of his three starts and now enjoys his best opportunity so far as he brings the best form to the table.
Race 4 No1 KALAMA SUNRISE (Nap)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Rose Dawes
KALAMA SUNRISE has been very well placed to post a winning sequence of four and can make herself one of the most numerically successful horses in training by completing a nap hand in this low-grade handicap. She’s taken last weekend’s Leicester success in her stride and has Rose Dawes back in the irons.
