Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Wednesday’s racing coming your way from Brighton, Pontefract, Yarmouth and Kempton Park on 7 August 2024.
BRIGHTON
Race 4 No9 BLENHEIM STAR
Trainer: William Knight – Jockey: Brandon Wilkie
With several of these milers in good form, this is the best race on the card, and BLENHEIM STAR can prove the answer. The daughter of Churchill seeks a fourth success from her last six outings and gets a handy weight allowance from her foes. Her last two triumphs have happened over the course and distance, while the 5lb claim of useful apprentice Wilkie is an extra boon to her chances.
Race 5 No5 CHOURMO (Nap)
Trainer: Mark Gillard – Jockey: John Egan
Egan employed enterprising tactics when winning on CHOURMO here in the spring and early summer. The Postponed gelding has troubled the judge on two subsequent races on turf and with his liking for the track can show his rivals a clean pair of heels.
Race 6 No7 DIAMOND COTTAGE (Each Way)
Trainer: Malcom Saunders – Jockey: Gina Mangan
Adace would be a deserving winner after a string of near misses but at a bigger price, DIAMOND COTTAGE can raise her game. The mare represents a trainer who rarely runs his horses away from Bath or Chepstow, but bringing her back to a course on which she’s a three-time career winner can prove a smart card to play.
PONTEFRACT
Race 1 No1 HIGHWAYGREY
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: Mr Thomas Easterby
Although Easterby’s handicappers rarely post back-to-back successes I fancy HIGHWAYGREY to prove an exception to that rule. The eight-year-old did us a good turn when scoring over course and distance last time and his rise in the weights is cancelled out to an extent by the claim of his amateur rider, who is the latest in a dynasty to carry the family name.
Race 2 No2 HINDLEY
Trainer: Ed Bethell – Jockey: Callum Rodriguez
Although he lacks the benefit of a previous run it should be worth monitoring HINDLEY in the market for this 1200 metres novice. The Kodiac colt has shown promise in his preparatory work and can prove a credit to the former trainer he is named after, the late Jeremy Hindley.
Race 4 No2 GARDEN OASIS (Nap)
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: David Allan
GARDEN OASIS has proved an earning machine for his connections with his figures of 4313212 this season. The last time he delivered at this course was in the late summer of 2020, but increasing years have failed to blunt his enthusiasm, and this race has cut up in his favour.
YARMOUTH
Race 1 No2 LINDWALL
Trainer: Mick Easterby – Jockey: Miss Serena Brotherton
LINDWALL has shown with a couple of frame finishes under the very experienced Brotherton that he’s on the cusp of a deserving return to winning ways. He would make short work of his foes if near as good as he was before enduring training issue, and it looks on that recent evidence that he’s still got it.
Race 3 No1 JAMES WEBB (Nap)
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: PJ McDonald
JAMES WEBB didn’t find as much as it seemed he would when posting a midfield finish in a Pontefract maiden but was only narrowly denied on his previous start at Redcar. As the most experienced runner in this, he should prove hard to beat, though Northern Ruler will be no pushover.
KEMPTON PARK
Race 3 No2 ARABIAN LIGHT (Nap)
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: William Buick
From a plum drawn against the rail ARABIAN LIGHT can prove the best bet on the card. The Godolphin-owned gelding opened his account in decisive fashion at Newmarket and although running past trees to achieve that has learned plenty. He can show with another delivery that he is good value for his penalty.
Race 4 No7 SWORD
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
SWORD has blinkers added after a near miss in cheek pieces in a Newmarket novice last month. He brings the best form to the table, and can repel the challenge of Ghaihaban, who has squandered a number of chances.
Race 5 No3 BEELEY
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: Kieran Shoemark
Although she comes with risks attached, BEELEY should prove the answer to this fillies’ novice. The daughter of Camelot was trained with Classic aspirations earlier in the season when not disgraced in the Cheshire Oaks. She managed to find one to beat her in an all-weather novice last time but is worth another chance.
Race 7 No1 HEATHCLIFF
Trainer: James Fanshawe – Jockey: Daniel Muscutt
HEATHCLIFF opened his account on handicap debut here in the spring when equipped with a hood. Dropped to sprinting, he put in a good showing to take away a minor cheque last month. On a third consecutive visit to the Sunbury venue tonight and back to 1400 metres, he can return to winning ways.
Race 8 No6 CHERRY COLA
Trainer: Sheena West – Jockey: Rose Dawes
CHERRY COLA is regularly partnered by Dawes who boasts two successes on the mare. The combination posted a near miss at Salisbury last month to indicate a first win in 2024 is imminent.
