Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing coming your way from Newmarket, York, Chepstow, and Southwell.
NEWMARKET
Race 3 EMIRATES AUTUMN STAKES (Group 3)
No4 NOTABLE DREAM
Trainer: Marco Botti – Jockey: Silvestre De Sousa
The first two Group races on this card are tricky affairs, but in this test for staying two-year-olds NOTABLE DREAM can step up to the plate. Representing an emerging sire in Bayside Boy, the colt has interestingly put in his two best performances on the two Newmarket racecourses, including when a staying on second in a Group 3 at the Cambridgeshire meeting. He will receive strong assistance from the saddle and appeals as the value play in an open affair.
Race 4 DARLEY DEWHURST STAKES (Group 1)
No1 DARKNESS FALLS (Nap)
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien – Jockey: Ryan Moore
While all the talk in Newmarket has concerned Godolphin’s DESERT CASTLE, the unbeaten son of Frankel should find himself in a battle today in the shape of the Coolmore owned DARKNESS FALLS. Nobody could be anything but impressed at the way the first named colt, a son of Frankel, stormed home in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster. Charlie Appleby’s charge was promoted to the top of the layers’ lists for next year’s 2000 Guineas but today he will face a tougher challenge. Aidan O’Brien has a good line onto him through Doncaster runner-up Sergei Diaghilev, while in his own right my selection greatly impressed with his clear cut win in the Group 1 Golden Fleece at Leopardstown, and DARKNESS FALLS can make this the clinching leg of a fine hat-trick.
Race 5 CLUB GODOLPHIN CESAREWITCH HANDICAP
No15 SEA LANTERN (Each Way)
Trainer: Brian Ellison – Jockey: Rowan Scott
This betting extravaganza often sees the same protagonists turning up and from that group both the 2025 winner BEYLERBEYI and gamble of the race DAWN RISING are entitled to go well. Scottish raider MOUNTAIN ROAD is another that brings strong credentials to the party. They are musts for trifecta and quarter perms but there could be some mileage in the very much unexposed SEA LANTERN, who embarks on only a fifth career start for a trainer more than capable of producing the goods with an improving stayer. The former Irish-trained four-year-old returned from five months off to power home and land some good bets on handicap debut at Pontefract, a stiff course where the terrain teaches an inexperienced horse. I’m expecting further progression from this gelded son of Sea The Stars who should relish the big step up in trip to clinch the second leg of our Autumn Double.
Prediction: 1st SEA LANTERN, 2nd Beylerbeyi, 3rd Dawn Rising, 4th Mountain Road
Race 6 No2 CULLENAGH RAINBOW
Trainer: Alan King – Jockey: Rossa Ryan
Ghaiyyath filly CULLENAGH RAINBOW is sporting a first time hood, but while that tempers enthusiasm there was much to like about the way this 80-1 no hoper finished off her first race for a podium finish at Kempton, from which she’s learned plenty. The switch to grass won’t pose any problems and she rates a genuine threat to paper favourite DESERT ROMANCE.
Race 7 No4 SILVER SOVEREIGN
Trainer: Clive Cox – Jockey: Rossa Ryan
SILVER SOVEREIGN is another eye taking part of a good book of rides for Rossa Ryan. The Ten Sovereigns filly looked better the further she travelled on handicap debut at Newbury, and while this is a hotter race she’s entitled to carry on progressing, and proving hard to keep out of the money.
YORK
Race 1 No4 CUT A DASH (Nap)
Trainer: Richard Hannon – Jockey: Sean Levey
CUT A DASH drops in grade in a move that can pay off for a colt rated one of the best bets of the day. He’s rubbed shoulders with some talented opponents but lost all chance in the Group 2 Mill Reef after completely blowing the start. It’s a credit to him that he ran on at Newbury to claim a minor cheque, and he will benefit by having a jockey that knows him back in the saddle.
Race 2 No15 CASTLE STUART (Each Way)
Trainer: Richard Fahey – Jockey: Barry McHugh
In favour of CASTLE STUART is the regularity of his visits to the Knavesmire and good record here, which although yet to number a win has seen him trouble the judge on four of six visits. Dropped to a Class3 he attracted plenty of support on the way to finishing third last time, when he got going too late. Though back into the Class2 band he’s sure to be afforded a strong pace to aim at, and should get into the shake up with MY LOVE IS KING one worth having a saver on.
Race 4 No20 APOLLO ONE (Each Way)
Trainer: Peter Charalambous – Jockey: Ray Dawson
From a handicapping perspective APOLLO ONE has dropped to a very tempting mark and will carry my money. The veteran is yet to win at this track but ran well when fourth to Air Force One and that form has been heavily boosted. As a hold up horse he always needs some luck in running, but granted racing real estate at the business end he should be in the thick of things.
CHEPSTOW
Race 5 No8 MASKED MAN
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: JJ Slevin
This trainer has strong claims with GLYNN BRAE who has been working well at Grange Farm, but the lightly raced and still unexposed MASKED MAN could have a class edge on his field. His good run in a Haydock Grade 2 has been franked, while it’s easy to forgive any horse an underwhelming run at Aintree, when he was probably over the top.
Race 6 No3 MAGICAL KING (Each Way)
Trainer: Stuart Edmunds – Jockey: Charlie Hammond
While there are sure to be a couple of well treated horses in the field for this long distance handicap hurdle, the strong travelling MAGICAL KING could outrun his lofty price. His stable is amongst the winners, while he’s having a first run back from a breathing correction.
SOUTHWELL
Race 7 No5 TANJEN (Nap)
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: Sean Kirrane
As a filly in form TANJEN can give us a good run for our money as the only bet on the card. She gamely posted a second win at Hamilton and should enjoy this first run on sand since June.
