Neil Morrice shares all his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing, coming your way from Newbury, Ripon , Newmarket , Doncaster , Bath and Market Rasen on 16 August 2025.
NEWBURY
Race 1 HIGHCLERE THOROUGHBRED RACING GEOFFREY FREER STAKES (Group 3)
No6 PINHOLE (Nap)
Trainer: Ralph Beckett – Jockey: Colin Keane
PINHOLE looked like a horse who had come of age when opening his account for the season over this mile and a half in a Class2 at Newbury last month. When reaching top gear the son of Frankel stretched right away, with his rivals stretched out like washing behind him. It appears that the penny is now starting to drop with this well regarded individual, but there was still signs of laziness in the performance, and Beckett has decided to add cheek pieces.
Race 2 No1 GETREADYTORUMBLE
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Tom Marquand
GETTEADYTORUMBLE has shown himself to be fully effective at a level just short of Listed and Group class, having been unlucky when jumping a path at Sandown and second only to Naana’s Sparkle at Goodwood, where when switched right for his challenge he closed all the way to the line. He’s competing off a career high mark today, but is taking his racing well and remains in tip top order.
Race 4 VISIT MALTA HUNGERFORD STAKES (Group 2)
No9 SPY CHIEF
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: Rab Havlin
MORE THUNDER looked most unlucky not to prevail in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot, before getting up in the final stride of the Bunbury Cup at Newmarket. That was a third success in four starts for the Night Of Thunder colt since he joined William Haggas. KING’S GAMBLE hasn’t won since his Newmarket introduction back in 2023 but he’s been sparingly campaigned, and signalled with his second to RAGE OF BAMBY in the Hackwood Stakes at this course that he will soon be back on track. Any of this trio have it in them to prevail, but the one I prefer is SPY CHIEF, who ran a blinker when second in the Jersey Stakes at Ascot and was in no way disgraced with a mid division finish in the Group 1 July Cup at Newmarket.
Prediction: 1st SPY CHIEF, 2nd More Thunder, 3rd King’s Gamble
RIPON
Race 2 No4 SWORD MAKER
Trainer: Saeed Bin Suroor – Jockey: Sean Kirrane
Carded to go off the outsider of four in this Hornblower Stakes, SWORD MAKER is capable of springing a minor upset in the Godolphin silks. The Pinatubo colt needed his first run at Newmarket but was a lot more forward when landing some good bets at Redcar. This is a step up the class ladder which he can take.
Race 3 No5 NOVELLO LAD (Nap)
Trainer: Paul Midgley – Jockey: David Nolan
NOVELLO LAD incurred a rare blip on his recent CV when his run attracted the attention of the Stewards at Doncaster. But he bounced back and did us a good turn in the process with a clean delivery at Pontefract, and can make this Silver Cup a third success from his last four outings.
Race 4 No14 MISTER SOX (Each Way)
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: Duran Fentiman
The historic Great St Wilfrid Handicap can fall to MISTER SOX, whose stable has run into some cracking form ahead of York. The selection’s last two successes have happened on this 1200 metres strip, latterly when he finished strongly to bag a Class3 at the beginning of the month. The horse has come right with perfect timing and can take the spoils at the expense of NOSTRUM, who was once considered a Group 1 horse, KODIAC THRILLER and CITY WALK.
Prediction: 1st MISTER SOX, 2nd Nostrum, 3rd Modiac Thriller, 4th City Walk
NEWMARKET
Race 2 No1 PACIFICA PIER (Nap)
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: Cieren Fallon
Palce Pier colt PACIFICA PIER created a good impression when downing a couple of well regarded foes on his introduction at Sandown. There’s plenty of quality about this colt, who on the way to better things can defy his 7lb penalty.
Race 4 No6 SPIRIT OF JURA
Trainer: Charlie Johnston – Jockey: Joe Fanning
Few fillies have been in the same form as SPIRIT OF JURA, who when stepping up in trip has looked very much in her comfort zone. The daughter of Derby winner Masar carries 6lb more than for her Hamilton success a fortnight ago, but can keep up the good work and make this her fifth success from six outings in 2025.
DONCASTER
Race 6 No1 RELEASE THE STORM (Nap)
Trainer: Brian Meehan – Jockey: Kevin Stott
RELEASE THE STORM makes sense as the best bet on a tricky card for wagering. He’s made the long journey from Wiltshire and can back up his initial Leicester success to remain unbeaten.
Race 7 No6 POL ROGER
Trainer: Michael Dods – Jockey: Connor Beasley
With the Dods horses now back in good form the eye is drawn to POL ROGER who with his better effortat Ayr earlier in the month signalled that he’s ready to deliver as a horse that is very much ‘overdue’.
BATH
Race 5 No4 BANANA
Trainer: Scott Dixon – Jockey: Joey Haynes
BANANA has been super consistent with figures of 355133 making the Aclaim mare the go to runner for a race that’s cut up in her favour. She’s another long distance traveller who can make the journey more than worthwhile.
Race 6 Bo1 SOLAR EDGE (Nap)
Trainer: Christopher Mason – Jockey: Taryn Langley
SOLAR EDGE won at Lingfield and finished second at Windsor Atherton beginning and end of June. The grey returns refreshed from a mid season break and can halt the impressive winning sequence of AZUINTHEJUNGLE.
MARKET RASEN
Race 6 No2 SIXTY PLUS (Nap)
Trainer: James Owen – Jockey: Sam Twiston- Davies
A bet at the end of play is SIXTY PLUS. The warm paper favourite drops back in trip for his hat-trick attempt but should take care of business, even though the wrath of the handicapper means he is a full 20lb higher than for his smooth success at Worcester.
