Neil Morrice best bets and tips – Friday 24 July 2026

ASCOT

Race 1 No2 BLUE FLIGHT (Each Way)
Trainer: James Fanshawe – Jockey: Daniel Muscutt

Two daughters of Blue Point can dominate this interesting opener, with BLUE FLIGHT taken to edge out ASH TREE. The first named filly travelled and picked up when given the office to score on her debut at Yarmouth. Like Ash Tree she’s burdened with a 7lb penalty, but there should be more to come as her trainer excels with fillies of this ilk.

Race 5 No2 HAVANA BLUE
Trainer: Julie Camacho – Jockey: Callum Rodriguez

HAVANA BLUE might be trained in the North, but his connections are never averse to a shot at a decent prize down South and that was mirrored in the grey’s good run in defeat over the course and distance last time. I fancy him to go one better, and at the main expense of MR WRITER.

Race 6 No4 PARADISE WALK (Nap)
Trainer: Ralph Beckett- Jockey: Hector Crouch

It’s hard to get away from hat-trick seeking PARADISE WALK who coped well with a drop back to 1000 metres on her latest outing at Nottingham. The daughter of Starman has taken those exertions in her stride and up this stiff finish can swoop to conquer in the rapidly emerging colours of Valmont.

THIRSK

Race 1 No6 MARTINET (Each Way)
Trainer: Sir Mark Prescott – Jockey: Jack Gilligan

The beautifully bred MARTINET proved easy to back on her Wolverhampton introduction but after being competitive throughout kept on to claim a minor cheque. She’s by Frankel out of a Pattern race winner and is going to be more streetwise for this first start on turf.

Race 2 No1 BLESSED VOYAGER (Nap)
Trainer: Ralph Beckett- Jockey: Rossa Ryan

Despite having to concede 7lb to her foes as the only winner in the field, BLESSED VOYAGER looks a worthy favourite and can back up his Newbury success. He grittily saw off a persistent challenger at that Grade 1 course, looking a bright prospect for owners Valmont.

Race 3 No8 CRYSTAL KRAKEN (Each Way)
Trainer: Dylan Cunha – Jockey: Rossa Ryan

CRYSTAL KRAKEN started at 100-1 when troubling the judge at Redcar and then stayed on to narrowly miss out on another frame finish at Lingfield. TheSoldier’s Call filly is just the type her trainer excels with and can do better now going down the nursery route.

Race 7 No2 SUNLIT SEA
Trainer: Sir Mark Prescott – Jockey: Poppy Scott

This is always a bountiful time of the season for Heath House and SUNLIT SEA can prove another contributor to its tally. The Mehmas filly streaked clear to land some good bets on the Lingfield turf track last time and is in the mood to consolidate.

SANDOWN PARK

Race 4 No2 HOT AND COLD (Nap)
Trainer: Sir Mark Prescott – Jockey: Luke Morris

Study Of Man filly HOT AND COLD made a bold fist of going gate to wire only to succumb to the promising Rosa Inglesa at Ascot. If she can establish an early lead she should make this a third success from her last four starts for a yard very much amongst the winners.

Race 5 No6 SWIPED
Trainer: Ralph Beckett- Jockey: Rhys Clutterbuck

From the foot of the weights this can go to SWIPED, who as a three-year-old receives 6lb from his older opponents. He’s a versatile individual who showed the ability to handle an undulating track when successful at Epsom last time, while the stiff uphill finish will also play to his strengths.

YORK

Race 1 No8 QUEST FOR FUN (Each Way)
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: David Allan

QUEST FOR FUN ran well to earn in a similar race at the May meeting and returns for a race he’s won twice previously, as an outright scorer in 2023 and as a dead heater last season. He wasn’t at his best last time but is perfectly capable of bouncing back, and he can.

Race 5 No4 REGAL CHARM (Each Way)
Trainer: Henry Candy – Jockey: Rob Hornby

If Candy has a black type/Group filly in his yard then REGAL CHARM is the one. She gelled with Hornby when landing a quiet touch at Salisbury, and while that was on soft ground she couldn’t do more than stroll home by more than six lengths, making her very interesting for this step up the class ladder.

Race 6 No6 SPACE BEAR (Each Way)
Trainer: Mike Appleby – Jockey: Harry Davies

Several have obvious chances in this sprint handicap but one that deserves a change of luck is SPACE BEAR. She put in another earning run at Doncaster last time, will enjoy the drying ground and looks sure to run well again.

CHEPSTOW

Race 1 No7 DEVON ANGEL (Nap)
Trainer: Rod Millman – Jockey: Tyler Heard

After three educational runs DEVON ANGEL showed a first glimmer of ability when third in a Ffos Las nursery. Granted the ability of her trainer to get the best out of his lower grade youngsters the filly must have a good chance of opening account from the foot of the weights in what’s only her second outing in handicap company.

Race 6 No7 RIVER EDGE (Each Way)
Trainer: Christopher Mason – Jockey: Tyler Heard

RIVER EDGE tried to anticipate the start, got it wrong, and lost ground leaving the stalls in a similar contest here last week. He needs to get onto an easy lead and that hiccup meant it was game over for the lightly raced gelding. Under a new rider he could prove dangerous as this is a weak affair, but he does need to fly the gate.