Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Sunday’s racing coming your way from Newmarket, Salisbury, and Hamilton Park on 4 May 2025.
NEWMARKET
Race 2 BETFRED DAHLIA STAKES (Group 2)
No4 RUNNING LION (Nap)
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
A first bet on the final day of the Guineas Festival is RUNNING LION, who won the Pretty Polly Stakes on this terrain two years ago and ended last season with a gallant second in the Prix de L’Opera at Longchamp. She was runner-up in the corresponding race 12 months ago, and is more than ready for her clash with Cinderella’s Dream.
Race 3 No8 BLINDEDBYTHELIGHTS (Each Way)
Trainer: Sir Mark Prescott – Jockey: Luke Morris
BLINDEDBYTHELIGHTS was a dual scorer while finishing second in his three other starts in 2023, only to go onto the injury list following his 2024 comeback at Newcastle. He’s returning from the best part of a year off, but has been training well to suggest that at a double figure price he can get into the shake-up.
Race 4 BETFRED 1000 GUINEAS STAKES (Group 1)
No6 HEY BOO (Each Way)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: George Bass
The first fillies’ Classic is dominated by unbeaten LAKE VICTORIA and DESERT FLOWER who have taken out nine races between them. My vibes for Aidan O’Brien’s Breeders’ Cup winner Lake Victoria are stronger, and while there’s a risk of the pair dominating affairs it may be worth looking elsewhere for value. HEY BOO was an unconsidered 20-1 shot when scoring on debut on the all-weather, followed that up with another success over 1400 metres on sand and three weeks ago chased home Duty First in the Newbury trial, with the first two pulling clear. Prior to that she had only ventured onto the grass on one occasion at home. The Channons have run a lot of good fillies in this race and while her chance is far from obvious, she has delighted in her work and can give George Bass a good passage on his first ride in a Classic.
Prediction: 1st HEY BOO, 2nd Lake Victoria, 3rd Desert Flower
Race 7 No7 LIGHTENING MANN
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Rossa Ryan
LIGHTENING MANN traded very short in running prior to his defeat at Beverley where when in the clear he found less off the bridle than it seemed he would. Off a slow pace he had been keen and probably burned up a fair bit of energy. It’s a run that can be improved on in the nightcap, in which Rossa Ryan is an eye taking booking for the Kameko gelding.
SALISBURY
Race 3 No6 JOY CHOI (Nap)
Trainer: Malcolm Saunders – Jockey: Laura Coughlan
Saunders excels with sprinters and has a good prospect for that code in JOY CHOI. The Territories mare hasn’t been without her issues, as her latest appearance was at this time in 2024, but she’s gone well off a break in the past, and has few miles on her racing clock for a seven-year-old.
Race 6 No3 BULL RUN
Trainer: Ralph Beckett – Jockey: Hector Crouch
Not much to go on regarding form in this long distance maiden and my inclination is to go with BULL RUN, who is by Seat The Moonout of a Group 1 winning mare, and has shown promise at home.
HAMILTON PARK
Race 5 No2 EPIDAVROS (Nap)
Trainer: K Scott – Jockey: Jason Hart
I hope EPIDAVROS will be worth the wait as the only bet on this card. She’s had a couple of outings to bring her to the boil, and is down in class following her near miss at Musselburgh. The only concern is that her winning form is in the soft.
