Neil Morrice shares all his best bets and tips for Wednesday’s racing, coming your way from Sandown Park, Yarmouth, Beverly and Kelso on 17 September 2025.
SANDOWN PARK
Race 4 No6 PINA SONATA (Each Way)
Trainer: James Fanshawe – Jockey: Daniel Muscutt
There’s a feeling that Mary Slack’s PINA SONATA was asked to run before she could walk when heading from success in a Leicester novice straight into the Group 1 Prix Rothschild at Deauville. It’s no great shock that she beat only two home that day, but the fact that Fanshawe elected to reach for the stars tells you the esteem in which he holds the daughter of Pinatubo. She’s carded to go off as a roughie today, but that doesn’t put me of as stepping back into Listed company could easily prove rewarding.
Race 6 No9 DANCING TIGER (Nap)
Trainer: Roger Teal – Jockey: Rossa Ryan
DANCING TIGER handled the testing conditions to look better the further he travelled when opening his account at Goodwood. He will encounter juice in the ground again, and under expert handling should enjoy the stiff uphill finish.
Race 7 No1 HUGGABLE
Trainer: Dylan Cunha – Jockey: Morgan Cole
South African interest abounds in the nightcap which can fall to the Dylan Cunha-trained HUGGABLE. The Cityscape filly is deserving of top weight following a Class6 success at Epsom and a near miss in a Class5 at Epsom. However, her ability to handle these easier underfoot conditions needs to be taken on trust.
YARMOUTH
Race 3 No4 KING OF BERKSHIRE
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
Several top yards are represented in this interesting maiden in which KING OF BERKSHIRE has to be closely scrutinised. He’s a son of Camelot who’s been going well in his work at Park House. I hope he isn’t making the long journey from Hampshire just for the goodness of his health, while his trainer can do little wrong.
Race 4 No6 RUNNING LION (Nap)
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
The featured John Musker Stakes can see RUNNNG LION making the most of a class drop for John Gosden and Oisin Murphy. Although she was beaten in Listed company at Haydock in May, the Nap has otherwise contested Group races throughout the 2024 and 2025 campaigns and was the winner of the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes (Group 2) at Royal Ascot last year. While it’s of concern that she finished last in consecutive Group 1s at Newmarket and Goodwood in July, the early season evidence is that she’s better than Listed class, and she’s selected to stave off the challenges of stablemate LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL and BEAUTIFUL LOVE.
Race 7 No4 IRONIST
Trainer: George Margarson – Jockey: John Egan
At the end of proceedings IRONIST might be a bet worth waiting for in the fillies’ handicap. She’s troubled the judge on her last two starts at Newmarket and Lingfield and seems as effective over today’s 1200 metres as at 1400 metres. This is certainly no stronger than the company she’s kept through the summer.
BEVERLEY
Race 3 No1 LADY HORNBLOWER (Nap)
Trainer: Jedd O’Keeffe – Jockey: J Garritty
LADY HORNBLOWER carries a penalty for her recent course and distance triumph but I can’t envisage it halting her progress. The Nap downed a well supported foe on that occasion with the pair pulling clear, and under similar conditions she can maintain her progress and follow-up.
Race 4 No4 FAIRYDALE (Each Way)
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: David Allan
FAIRYDALE came under a ride a long way out on her latest start at this track but was noted staying on past beaten horses at the finish. It earned this daughter of Waldgeist a mark, and it will be no surprise if she raises her game now in a handicap.
Race 5 No12 KODEBREAKER (Each Way)
Trainer: Michael Herrington – Jockey: Tom Eaves
You have to go back more than a year to find KODEBREAKER’s last success, but in this horse’s favour is that he’s been freshened-up in preparation for an AW campaign through the winter. He acquitted himself well to a point in a first outing in six months at Yarmouth, which could have blown away the cobwebs for an earning run today.
Race 6 No10 TIRIAC (Each Way)
Trainer: Paul Midgley – Jockey: Cam Hardie
It could be worth sticking with TIRIAC who is one of the best handicapped sprinters in the North. He frequently comes back with excuses, but is drawn to go well today and at last gets his favoured juice in the ground. If breaking on terms and getting the luck required in running he can definitely win, although they are two big ‘ifs’.
KELSO
Race 3 No4 NICKELFORCE (Nap)
Trainer: Ben Case – Jockey: J M Quinlan
NICKELFORCE is of considerable interest granted his ability to be at his best when returning from a break. He demonstrated this with back-to-back successes at this time last year, and on a first visit to this track can reward the over 600 miles round trip from his Oxfordshire base near Banbury.
Race 6 No1 PAY THE PIPER
Trainer: Ann ahamilton – Jockey: Danny McMenamin
PAY THE PIPER has paid for his consistency and gets little respite from the assessor. Having said that he is the most likely in the field to run up to his best form, and from a 2lb higher mark can repeat his success in the race of 12 months ago.
