Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Friday’s racing coming your way from Newbury, Ffos Las, Lingfield Park, and Southwell on 28 February 2025.
NEWBURY
Race 3 No2 BASHERS REFLECTION
Trainer: Ben Case – Jockey: J M Quinlan
It could pay to be selective at this track’s final fixture before Cheltenham where field sizes are lower than the norm. One horse who operates well in a small field is BASHERS REFLECTION, who looked like a winner in waiting when chasing home a good yardstick at Wetherby last month. The chestnut has taken well to fences and has less questions marks against him than any of his three opponents.
Race 6 No5 MAGICAL KING (Nap)
Trainer: Stuart Edmunds – Jockey: Charlie Hammond
MAGICAL KING can to put his reputation of being a ‘nearly’ horse behind him in what looks his best winning chance of the season. The strong travelling chestnut has his assured stamina in likely testing conditions as an ace card to play, having finished second over the course and distance last time, while his sheer consistency makes him a banker for all exotic permutations.
FFOS LAS
Race 3 No3 DREAMS OF DIAMONDS
Trainer: Peter Bowen – Jockey: James Bowen
Ahead of the unfortunate suspension that means he will have to sit out the Cheltenham Festival, James Bowen is as hungry as ever and he can put another winner on the board courtesy of his father’s DREAMS OF DIAMONDS, who finished second here three weeks ago. The selection has few miles on his racing clock, and is deserving of a change of luck.
Race 6 No4 WHISKEY YANKEE (Nap)
Trainer: Sam Thomas – Jockey: Dylan Johnstone
A bet that I hope will prove worth waiting for is newcomer WHISKEY YANKEE in the concluding bumper. Sam Thomas excels with this type of individual, and the vibes I’m getting about the gelded son of Hunter’s Light is that although he’s not out of his trainer’s top drawer of talent he should nevertheless be good enough to deliver at his owner’s local track.
LINGFIELD PARK
Race 3 No6 MARCHOGION (Nap)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: David Probert
Balding has a very good record with his three-year-old handicappers of whom MARCHOGION is a case in point. It took the Mehmas a few runs before opening his account, but he did that in style at Southwell under an enterprising ride. From his draw in the middle of the gate it might help his cause of similar tactics are employed.
Race 4 No3 FERROUS
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Tom Marquand
Without question Rohaan has become a well handicapped horse but for a closer his draw on the rail might not be an advantage. Against that, connections of FERROUS will be delighted the grey breaks from gate 3, from which he can be afforded a handy position from which to strike in the short home straight. His record on sand reads 2115, and it was around this time that he notched the first of those successes. It’s his first visit to Lingfield, but the course looks tailor-made for him.
Race 5 No4 MOON OVER MIAMI
Trainer: Ralph Beckett – Jockey: Hector Crouch
Lightly race MOON OVER MIAMI enjoyed stepping up in trip when claiming a minor cheque at Kempton and on just a fifth career start appears to possess more scope for progression than his foes, although at the top and bottom of the weights Roaring Legend and Gimefive need respecting and should go into all exacta, trifecta and quartet perms.
Race 7 No6 BLUE PRINCE (Each Way)
Trainer: David Evans – Jockey: Hollie Doyle
One that I like in this race around a lap of the track is BLUE PRINCE. He did us a good turn with his success at the Goodwood Qatar Festival last summer since when he’s been more off the radar than on it. However, he put in an eye taking effort when third to Apiarist at Southwell a fortnight ago, which tells me he’s in a good place from which to deliver.
SOUTHWELL
Race 4 No6 SOAMES FORSYTE
Trainer: Michael Herrington – Jockey: Dylan Hogan
Breaking from the rail shouldn’t pose any problems for SOAMES FORSYTE, who has shown with three wins from his last four outings that he he’d become very well treated. While it’s getting harder for the six-year-old to further feather his nest, while in this fine form and with his tail up he should prove hard to beat.
Race 5 No6 MERESIDE MADNESS
Trainer: David Barron – Jockey: Callum Rodriguez
Veteran handler Barron might hold the key to this with the in-form MERESIDE MADNESS who went down in a blanket finish at Newcastle where he had delivered on his previous start. On only a second visit to this course and from a cracking draw. The chestnut can repel King Of Ithaca.
Race 7 No1 TRIBAL ACT (Nap)
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: Dougie Costello
TRIBAL ACT has a 7lb penalty round his neck for his comeback success over this trip at Kempton. It’s never easy for horses to defy one, but so impressive was the Sea The Stars gelding that he needs following as the best bet on this card.
