Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing coming your way from Newbury , Ripon ,Haydock Park , Doncaster and Newmarket on 19 July 2025.
NEWBURY
Race 1 No3 CERTAIN LAD (Each Way)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: George Bass
Connections of CERTAIN LAD are holding thumbs that thunderstorms will arrive in the Newbury vicinity. The precipitation is forecast to reach much of the south of the UK overnight, and would greatly assist the chance of Channon’s veteran in this Listed Stevenson Stakes. Though underwhelming on his latest of two starts this year at Chester the nine-year-old missed the break and was unable to utilise his favoured positive tactics. Away from that his form is solid, and especially in France where he won a Group 3 on his final 2024 outing, and finished third on this year’s reappearance in the Group 2 Prix d’Harcourt.
Race 2 No4 KYLE OF LOCHALSH (Each Way)
Trainer: Hughie Morrison – Jockey: David Probert
KYLE OF LOCHALSH is a pea out of the same pod granted the importance to him of cut in the ground. The Highland Reel entire races off the same mark as when third in this race 12 months ago, and was Listed placed in deep ground at Saint-Cloud. He’s definitely a horse to follow whatever happens on this first appearance since late April.
Race 3 HALLGARTEN AND NOVUM WINES HACKWOOD STAKES ( Group 3)
No8 REGIONAL ( Nap)
Trainer: Ed Bethell – Jockey: Callum Rodriguez
REGIONAL gave us a good run for our money when an honourable third in the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot. Although not at his best when taking away a minor cheque in this race last year he’s generally cut it with the big boys in the top sprints including in Ireland and Dubai. The 2023 Haydock Sprint Cup winner will not doubt have that Group 1 in his sights and can show he’s boss on the long journey from Middleham.
Race 4 WEATHERBYS SUPER SPRINT
No8 KAMAKAMELEON (Each Way)
Trainer: Dylan Cunha – Jockey: Callum Rodriguez
HAVANA HURRICANE is too short to make a betting case for in a race of such numerical strength. His form is streets in front of most of his 19 rivals but for a better value option a case can be made for KAMAKAMELEON. The son of Kameko won at Doncaster before reacting positively to the addition of blinkers to finish in fifth place, just over two lengths behind his opponent in the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot. At the respective prices Dylan Cunha’s runner needs to be taken seriously.
RIPON
Race 5 No4 BARLEY
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: Sean Kirrane
BARLEY has only managed a single success in 25 outings since joining Easterby but a strong case can be made for him following a pleasing effort in defeat in a better race than this at York last month. It was the second time in his last three starts that the gelding hit the woodwork, and if getting luck in running he can deservedly go one better.
Race 6 No3 GROUNDHOG (Nap)
Trainer: David Barron – Jockey: Joe Fanning
GROUNDHOG has enjoyed a light campaign with strong signs in his last two of four starts that he’s in the cusp of a winning breakthrough. This is only an eighth career appearance for the three-year-old who is the type of individual his trainer excels with.
HAYDOCK PARK
Race 2 No6 CARLYLE SQUARE
Trainer: Julie Camacho – Jockey: Harry Davies
CARLYLE SQUARE has taken a move in the right direction since being moved onto the grass and being stepped up in trip with figures of 221. The Wootton Bassett filly faces another recent winner in Canvas but gets a handy weight concession from that rival, and can win again in the colours of Martin Hughes.
Race 5 No4 MERAPI ( Nap)
Trainer: Ed Walker – Jockey: Paul Mulrennan
Frankel filly MERAPI was easy to back and ran green before staying on well at the finish on her debut at Ffos Las. Over this slightly longer trip she can outpoint two penalised previous winners of whom Forty Years On looks the main threat.
DONCASTER
Race 5 No5 JET BLACK (Nap)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: PJ McDonald
Balding does not field his usual powerful assault on the Saturday meetings but his JET BLACK is hard to get away from in this stayers’ handicap. The Kodiac filly sandwiched a Redcar triumph between near misses at Nottingham and Windsor and looks for all the world as if she will benefit from tonight’s further advance along the distance ladder.
Race 7 No10 LOOK BACK SMILING (Each Way)
Trainer: Roger Fell – Jockey: Joanna Mason
Course and distance winner LOOK BACK SMILING hasn’t managed to add to that success on the first day of the 2024 Flat season but though unpredictable the chestnut could raise his game and get into the shake-up as a speculative bet on a mainly tricky card for betting.
NEWMARKET
Race 2 No10 UNDERSTUDY (Nap)
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
The featured Aphrodite Stakes sees three relatively unexposed fillies crossing swords of whom UNDERSTUDY looks the best. Both Godolphin’s Spirited Style and John Gosden’s Sueno have solid claims but the latter’s stablemate can gain the upper hand. The daughter of Sea The Stars backed up a success in a small race at Southwell by finishing second as a 40-1 roughie in the Group 2 Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot. She was no match for the impressive winner Garden Of Eden, but the formline makes her an automatic and deserving favourite for tonight’s contest.
Race 4 No2 ZOULIGAN
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Tom Marquand
One that interests me in this 3yo only handicap is ZOULIGAN, who earned for the first time on handicap bow at Doncaster and who will benefit from a step up in trip under top pilot Marquand.
Race7 No4 BILLYB
Trainer: Craig Lidster – Jockey: Billy Loughnane
BILLYB showed he is a horse running nicely into form when on his third start of the year he troubled the judge at Doncaster. It should have teed him up nicely for tonight’s mission, with Loughnane a positive booking.
