Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Friday’s racing coming your way from Newcastle , Lingfield Park and Chelmsford City on 18 April 2025.
NEWCASTLE
Race 1 No5 ROYAL PLAYWRIGHT (Nap)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
A regular fixture in Group races last year, ROYAL PLAYWRIGHT finds himself in calmer waters for this seasonal return and first run on an artificial surface. His stable could hardly be in better form, while a repetition of his best form would give him a definite edge.
Race 2 No8 MARCHOGION (Nap)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: David Probert
With three runners Balding throws the kitchen sink at this valuable three-year-only sprint and the answer could be MARCHOGION. The son of Mehmas brings solid AW form to the table and confirmed his progression with an earning run behind SO DARN HOT at Lingfield. He enjoys a swing in the weights for that less than two lengths defeat, and can turn the tables.
Race 5 No4 FIVETHOUSANDTOONE (Each Way)
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
The champion jockey is an eye taking booking for Easterby’s FIVETHOUSANDTOONE who has twice troubled the judge in three AW starts since joining his trainer. They consisted of fourth in a Listed race and then a Class2 at Southwell that suggest this horse is ready to return to his former glories after an effective change of scenery.
Race 7 No4 PLAGE DE HAVRE (Each Way)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
PLAGE DE HAVRE has consistently attracted market support in his five AW outings and especially when getting off the mark by a wide margin at this track in February. He was confidently ridden on his latest start at Wolverhampton but seemed to let Wonder Legend get first run on him. I’m not saying he was in lucky, but his pilot will probably have him closer to the pace today.
LINGFIELD PARK
Race 3 No1 BLUE PRINCE
Trainer: David Evans – Jockey: Finley Marsh
BLUE PRINCE has knocked on the door in a select winter campaign after climaxing the 2024 season with a success at the Qatar Goodwood Festival. In an agonising finish for his connections he failed by a whisker to pick up Yorkshire at Kempton last week. He has to concede weight to his foes but is the best horse in the race.
Race 4 No6 CAJETAN (Nap)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Edward Greatrex
CAJETAN didn’t make the cut for his race at the all-weather championships but that could end up proving a blessing in disguise as this is definitely a more alluring option in terms of his chance of winning. The Nap didn’t enjoy the rub of the green on his latest outing at Kempton but should enjoy this first run on Lingfield’s Polytrack surface.
Race 7 No12 VOCAL LEGEND
Trainer: Charlie Hills – Jockey: Jason Watson
The Hills/Watson combination has forged a solid start to the season and in VOCAL LEGEND they have a big runner in the nightcap. The Dark Angel colt hit the crossbar a couple of times before a smooth conversion at Southwell and might have been underestimated for this first run in a handicap in which he receives weight from the field.
CHELMSFORD CITY
Race 1 No2 CHARLIE MASON
Trainer: Tony Carroll – Jockey: Tom Marquand
The go-to horse in the opener is CHARLIE MASON. His earning sequence stretches back 12 races, while he will be comfortable switching back to Polytrack after a game success on grass at Leicester. Marquand rarely rides for the stable, and is a significant jockey booking.
Race 6 No2 JOUNCY (Nap)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Ryan Moore
JOUNCY was ambitiously campaigned in three Group races after opening his account at the Qatar Goodwood Festival. He finished second In the Group 3 Sirenia Stakes at Kempton only to be put in his place in the Group 1 Middle Park. Not at all disgraced on that occasion, he’s a well regarded individual whose trainer looks to have found a perfect starting point for him.
