Neil Morrice best bets and tips – Friday 10 July 2026

NEWMARKET JULY DAY 2

Race 1 No4 DECADE OF TIME (Each Way)

Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: George Bass

DECADE OF TIME has enjoyed a freshening break since smoothly landing the odds laid on him at Nottingham, and in the process following up his Wndsor success in a race that’s worked out. The Study Of Man colt is in great form for this move into a handicap and can confirm his superiority over HERALDRY.

Race 3 No8 WINE DARK SEA (Nap)

Trainer: Harry Charlton – Jockey: Lewis Edmunds

While his price may be off putting, WINE DARK SEA appeals as the best bet of the week in this valuable stayers’ handicap and is a horse to follow until beaten. He was the easiest winner of a handicap I’ve seen in a long time when storming to a 13 lengths triumph in the Cumberland Plate at Carlisle and looking as if he had the proverbial ton in hand. This is quite a big step up the trip ladder for the Beckhampton raider, but anything north of evens will surely be a fair price as he should make no mistake and earn himself a crack at the Sky Bet Ebor, a York race the Charltons have liked to target over the years.

Race 4 TATTERSALLS SCEPTRE SESSIONS FALMOUTH STAKES (Group 1)

No1 BLUE BOLT

Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Colin Keane

All eyes will be on Irish Guineas and Coronation Stakes victress PRECISE in the Day 2 feature, and rightly so in lieu of the way she left her disappointing run in the English Guineas light years behind at the Curragh and Ascot. Not only did she consolidate her superiority over stablemate True Love at the Royal meeting, but also re established her bond with Ryan Moore, who deserted her in the Irish Classic. Some thought Touleen was unlucky in running without which she would have troubled the winner, something to which I would concur, and with that in mind it’s a shame she’s not in today’s field trying to put the record straight. But while the contest is without Touleen it does include BLUE BOLT, who when taking out the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes at Ascot was visually more impressive than Precise. It was a Group 2 as opposed to a Group 1, but the way the Juddmonte-owned Blue Bolt put the race to bed was a sight to savour. It established her as a genuine candidate for Group 1 honours going forward, and I think there’s a strong possibility that Andrew Balding’s charge will cause a minor upset by toppling the odds-on favourite.

Race 7 No7 TOASTMASTER (Each Way)

Trainer: Michael Herrington – Jockey: Oisin Murphy

Herrington has his team in good order and especially TOASTMASTER, for whom Oisin Murphy is an eye taking booking. On only a third start for Herrington the Cotai Glory gelding finished with a wet sail to land some good bets and open his account at Doncaster. It was conformation that his move onto the grass since leaving Simon Crisford has been a boon, and from his revised mark he has a good chance of following-up.

ASCOT

Race 3 No1 CREST OF FIRE (Each Way)

Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Callum Rodriguez

CROWN OFFICE picked up too late to make a challenge on return from a break at Sandown, and while he’s entitled to do better over this longer trip the value play is CREST OF FIRE who appears to have been overlooked in the betting. The grey is relatively inexperienced in the handicap division, and after a creditable run to trouble the judge at Carlisle, was drawn on the wrong side of the track when in the ruck in the Britannia at Royal Ascot. That effort shouldn’t be taken at face value, and he’s more than capable of bouncing back.

Race 6 No8 DILIGENTLY (Each Way)

Trainer: Clive Cox – Jockey: Callum Rodriguez

DILIGENTLY showed his liking for Windsor when opening his 2026 account at that riverside course last month. He picked up well from an unpromising early position to get up in a blanket finish. It was his best effort in four attempts this season, and though higher in the weights he should be a factor.

YORK

Race 1 No1 NORTHERN EXPRESS (Each Way)

Trainer: Michael Dods – Jockey: Paul Mulrennan

While he has mainly struggled since his success in the International at Ascot, NORTHERN EXPRESS put in a creditable first run back when posting a midfield finish at Newmarket last month. He had picked up prize money in three outings in Bahrain, and while it’s close on two years since his last win there is life in the old dog who has his regular pilot back in the irons.

Race 3 No7 NAVAL COP (Each Way)

Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: James Doyle

With the benefit of a run under her belt, NAVAL COP can outrun her forecast odds in this fillies’ novice. The home bred has plenty of speed on the dam’s side of her pedigree, and though beating only one home on her Bath introduction would have finished closer if she hadn’t been bumped at the start and then ran green.

Race 7 No2 NIGHTSINWHITESATIN (Nap)

Trainer: Ed Bethell – Jockey: Cian Horgan

NIGHTSINWHITESATIN is proving to be an owners’ dream as she attempts to make this an eleventh earning run on the spin. That record has included two successes, while three outings this season have yielded two near misses. She’s started favourite on each of those starts and just needs luck in running under her 3lb claiming apprentice to get back into the winning groove.

WORCESTER

Race 5 No4 PLAY PRETEND (Each Way)

Trainer: Dave Roberts – Jockey: Lee Edwards

This is the preferred of two options on the card for PLAY PRETEND, who signalled with an earning run at the track that he’s on the way back. The five-year-old did his best work at the finish, indicating that this step up to two and a half miles will assist him.

Race 6 No7 COUNTY CHAMPS (Each Way)

Trainer: Chris Gordon – Jockey: Freddie Gordon

Father and son combo can take out this second division of the handicap hurdle with COUNTY CHAMPS who regularly knocked on the door last season, and is fresh and well for his return from a 200-day break.

CHESTER

Race 3 No3 KACH ABOVE

Trainer: David Loughnane – Jockey: Laura Pearson

Far Above colt KACH ABOVE landed some good bets when opening his account at Leicester where a step up to 1400 metres saw him in his element. He was always on the premises, and in stretching clear inside the final furlong left the impression he could be one to follow when going down the nursery route.

Race 4 No5 GONNA FLY (Nap)

Trainer: Ralph Beckett- Jockey: Rossa Ryan

The unexposed GONNA FLY brings a two from three record into this first handicap assignment to make him very interesting on handicap debut for top connections. He downed a 2-5 Godlophin hotpot at Windsor to tee himself up for this new division in which he should be worth following.