Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing coming your way from Goodwood , Haydock Park , Salisbury , and Windsor on 24 May 2025
GOODWOOD
Race 2 No5 SEAPLANE (Nap)
Trainer: Paul Cole – Jockey: David Probert
Formerly the Predominate Stakes, the Cocked Hat Stakes doesn’t carry quite the same clout in its role as a Derby trial but it’s attracted a very smart colt in the unbeaten Amiloc, and also SEAPLANE. I doubt there’s a better horse trained at Whatcombe, while the grey was far from disgraced when last seen taking away a minor cheque in the Group 1 Futurity at Doncaster. The Golden Horn colt should stay all day, and has worked with real panache at home.
Race 4 No3 MUSIC PIECE
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: David Probert
MUSIC PIECE ran well on her Sandown return which has served to put a cutting edge on her. The Camelot filly will enjoy stepping up to a mile and a quarter and her black type mission can be accomplished.
Race 5 No5 MASTER BUILDER (Each Way)
Trainer: David Menuisier – Jockey: Kieran Shoemark
This is an interesting stayers’ handicap in which French Master, Loughville and Story Horse all hold solid chances. One that could eclipse that trio is MASTER BUILDER, who ran into one when second in the Great Met at Epsom and is effective on an undulating course. A dual winner, the only time in eight starts that he fluffed his lines was in the November Handicap for which he started second favourite but was over the top.
Race 6 No7 MYTHICAL BIRD
Trainer: Hughie Morrison – Jockey: Hollie Doyle
MYTHICAL BIRD went down in a head bob against Crepe Suzette at Wolverhampton from which she has become more streetwise. Over this slightly longer trip and back on turf she should open her account.
Race 7 No12 MISS SHOW DOWN
Trainer: Clive Cox – Jockey: Saffie Osborne
If a low draw is the best place to be, MISS SHOW DOWN should give a good account in the nightcap. She posted a 16-1 shock when last seen at Bath last September and has wintered well.
HAYDOCK PARK
Race 2 No8 DIXIELAND BLUES
Trainer: Simon Crisford – Jockey: Harry Davies
The Silver Bowl is one of the biggest handicaps for three-year-olds in the calendar and has been won by some very smart horses over the years. It’s hard to run a line through anything in the field, but DIXIELAND BLUES is one that stands out following his snug Southwell win a month ago. He doesn’t seem over burdened for this first run in handicap company, and has scope for bags of improvement.
Race 3 No5 RUNNING LION (Nap)
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: Cieren Fallon
RUNNING LION looked in need of the race on her reappearance at Newmarket and should now be the ready article for a Listed race that’s well within her compass. Last season’s Duke Of Cambridge Stakes winner likes the faster ground, and with a victory can put herself on course for a return visit to Royal Ascot.
Race 4 BETREF SANDY LANE STAKES (Group 2)
No2 ARIZONA BLAZE
Trainer: A Murray – Jockey: David Egan
Unbeaten Powerful Glory is hard to assess now moved up the class ladder but the same remark applies to ARIZONA BLAZE who was well in command at the finish when taking out a Group 3 at Chantilly last time. The Sergei Prokofiev colt has also delivered on good ground, and if handling this terrain can prove a thorn in the side of his opponents.
Race 5 BETFRED TEMPLE STAKES (Group 2)
No2 AMERICAN AFFAIR
Trainer: Jim Goldie – Jockey: Paul Mulrennan
It’s good for racing that veteran handler Goldie has a budding Group horse under his wing in the form of AMERICAN AFFAIR. He’s moved up through the handicap ranks and was a clear cut scorer in a Class 2 at York which was his third success from his last four outings. This is a big step up, but one that he can take is his stride to run out the most popular of winners.
SALISBURY
Race 2 No7 REDREDROBIN (Nap)
Trainer: Malcolm Saunders – Jockey: Gina Mangan
Saunders has his sprinters in very good order and REDREDROBIN holds strong claims to take the spoils following a solid earning run on Polytrack last time that has served to tighten her up. A 50-1 shot on that occasion, she will be popular in the market in similar mode to her stablemate Diamond Cottage, who landed a big gamble earlier in the week.
Race 3 No2 STANHOPE GARDENS
Trainer: Ralph Beckett – Jockey: Hector Couch
Having been beaten just a neck by Derby favourite Delacroix in the Autumn Stakes at Newmarket, STANHOPE GARDENS towers above his rivals on the evidence of the book.The son of Ghaiyyath could still head to Epsom himself, even though this conditions race is a penalty kick for him following a minor training setback.
WINDSOR
Race 4 No8 VALSHARAH
Trainer: Charlie Hills – Jockey: Neil Callan
Owner Martin Hughes has been amongst the winners and has a good chance of landing this sprint handicap with VALSHARAH. The selection was beaten only two lengths when third in a field of 15 over course and distance last time, and goes well on the faster ground.
Race 5 No5 STRIKE (Nap)
Trainer: Jonny Portman – Jockey: Jack Doughty
Portman boasts a good record at this course and can add to it through STRIKE who is a dual winner over course and distance and unbeaten here. The grey took a step forward with a near miss last time, and has top apprentice Doughty taking a handy 3lb off his back.
