Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Friday’s racing coming your way from Ascot, Fontwell Park, Hexham and Southwell on 3 October 2025.
ASCOT
Race 3 No7 MARNIER
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: Rab Havlin
Any of the eight runners can win this but preference is for MARNIER on his return from a mid season break. He was narrowly denied at Yarmouth and again ran into a solid opponent when edged out by Triple Gee at Salisbury. He can repel a very strong Godolphin representation of which RACE TO THE STARS looks the main threat.
Race 4 No7 PUSH THE LIMIT (Nap)
Trainer: Ralph Beckett – Jockey: Hector Crouch
PUSH THE LIMIT was beaten into second on a first visit to this track last month following a first success of the season in a Class3 handicap at Goodwood. Stamina promises to be his strong suit, and a move up to the near Cup distance can see him put in a career best, which is what’s required to win this. ARABIAN FORCE was also doing his best work at the finish when third in the Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes at York, and that’s the best form on offer.
Race 5 No12 ZOULU CHIEF (Each Way)
Trainer: Heather Main – Jockey: Hollie Doyle
ZOULU CHIEF has looked a more rounded sprinter since undergoing a wind operation, a fact echoed by his three recent podium finishes including when chasing home Elarak in a better race than this at Newmarket at the end of last month. In customary style the selection made much of the running, keeping on well when headed to indicate there’s a good race in him.
Race 6 No8 GRIZEDALE
Trainer: Daniel Kubler – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
GRIZEDALE has few miles on his racing clock and with Oisin Murphy in his saddle commands maximum interest in this classified stakes. His racing has been restricted to the all-weather on which he opened his account at Kempton, only to be beaten at the same track when he failed to parry to strong challenge of One More. It was a costly defeat, but time can tell he ran into a smart foe, and he can bounce back.
FONTWELL PARK
Race 2 No2 MOTAZZEN (Nap)
Trainer: Henrietta Knight – Jockey: Brendan Powell
MOTAZZEN enjoyed a purple patch around Christmas last year when chalking up a fine hat-trick only to be forced onto the sidelines by injury. The seven-year-old returned after an eight month absence to score at 50-1 in a Class3 on the Lingfield Polytrack. While disappointing on his latest run on sand at the same course, he’s been in good form readying himself for a return to hurdles.
Race 5 No1 SOUTHOFTHEBORDER
Trainer: Henrietta Knight – Jockey: Brendan Powell
From the same stable, SOUTHOFTHEBORDER could be the answer to this tightly knit handicap chase. A former dual scorer for Nicky Henderson, he ran well to a point on his only start over fences and now debuts out of West Lockinge Farm having put in some solid work, and schooled well for his jockey.
HEXHAM
Race 3 No2 DOUBLE DIGITS (Nap)
Trainer: Ann Hamilton – Jockey: Danny McMenamin
As long as he’s fit following five months off, DOUBLE DIGITS can pick up from where he left off and compPete a fine hat-trick. He meets a handful of in form opponents whose fitness can’t be questioned, but when last seen he looked very progressive, and a horse to follow.
Race 7 No8 HALFWAY HOUSE LAD (Each Way)
Trainer: Maurice Barnes – Jockey: Charlie Price
A hallmark of HALFWAY HOUSE LAD’s 2024/25 campaign was his spectacular jumping, and especially when racing at this track where he jumped them silly in March and was a close second after again forcing the pace on his final start in mid June. He has plenty of stamina and is versatile regarding the ground, making him a horse to follow this season.
SOUTHWELL
Race 2 No4 DUBAI TIME (Nap)
Trainer: Hugo Palmer – Jockey: Billy Loughnane
As a winner of two of his last outings, DUBAI TIME needs to be taken seriously on this first run on the all-weather. The filly by Time Test has to be considered fortunate to deny Crazee Icon at Chester but her jockey had her in the right place at the right time, and that’s the name of the game. She’s worked well on an artificial surface at home.
Race 7 No2 BACKSPIN
Trainer: Richard Hughes – Jockey: Billy Loughnane
BACKSPIN is drawn to play an effective part in the concluding sprint handicap, and after a couple of good efforts in defeat deserves a change of luck. The blinkered selection gained his only success at this course last winter, and would have finished closer at Wolverhampton last time had he been more alert at the gate.
