Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing coming your way from Doncaster, Newbury, Kelso, Wolverhampton and Maydan on 4 March 2023
DONCASTER
Race 3 No5 SERGEANT WILSON
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
SERGEANT WILSON has his tail up after making all and coming home unchallenged at Fakenham. He could easily get onto an easy lead, and on a track that suits front runners may be hard to peg back.
Race 4 No3 AUBIS WALK
Trainer: Nicky Richards – Jockey: Brian Hughes
If Richards has a horse destined for high honours then it is AUBIS WALK. She outclassed her Sedgefield rivals over two and a half miles and will relish moving up to three in the hands of the champion jockey. It’s hard to draw a line through the names of any of her five opponents, but it would be no surprise to see her take the class rise in her stride.
Race 5 No7 UNDERSUPERVISION (Each Way)
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
UNDERSUPERVISION isn’t an obvious choice for the featured Grimthorpe Chase but the chestnut will be a player if able to recapture his best form from last season. With his trainer’s team running into form, and now encountering better ground, it would come as no surprise if he is.
Race 7 No4 GALAHAD THREEPWOOD (Nap)
Trainer: Ben Pauling – Jockey: Kevin Brogan
GALAHAD THREEPWOOD blotted his copybook when unseating his rider here in January and needs to be given the chance to put the record straight. The former useful stayer on the Flat had knocked on the door previously, attracted strong support on that latest start and is fancied to recoup the losses.
NEWBURY
Race 2 No8 CHAMPAGNE CITY (Each Way)
Trainer: Ben Brookhouse – Jockey: Eddie Edge
This stable saw a horse of similar ilk to CHAMPAGNE CITY run well at Ayr earlier in the week, and though my selection is not an obvious winner of this seniors’ handicap hurdle he can take away a cheque, as he’ll be all the better for a couple of solid runs on the all-weather in December.
Race 3 No7 LORD BADDESLEY (Nap)
Trainer: Chris Gordon – Jockey: Tom Cannon
LORD BADDESLEY had things under control a long way out when delivering at Plumpton. He’s in a much better race, but receives bundles of weight from those at the top of the handicap and can put paid to the chances of course specialist Paint The Dream and Zanza.
Race 5 No3 DOM PERRY
Trainer: Hughie Morrison – Jockey: Jonathan Burke
DOM PERRY landed a quiet touch on debut for Morrison at Southwell and is a horse that should have more to offer. He faces much stiffer opposition, but can stave off the challenges of Poncho and Matata.
KELSO
Race 3 No9 NEMEAN LION (Nap)
Trainer: Kerry Lee – Jockey: Richard Patrick
From a stable amongst the winners, NEMEAN LION can take out this competitive Grade 2 trial for the Ballymore Hurdle. The selection ran easily his best race when finishing third in the Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown and should benefit from a step up in trip on an undulating track that can play to his strengths.
Race 6 No5 GREATNESS AWAITS
Trainer: Ben Pauling – Jockey: Lorcan Williams
GREATNESS AWAITS ran better than his eventual finishing position indicates when making his debut over jumps at Ludlow. He ranged up looking a danger early in the short home straight but was intimidated by rivals on either side of him, and was allowed to come home in his own time on the run-in. If he’s learned from that initial experience he could surprise against rivals that are easy to pick holes in.
WOLVERHAMPTON
Race 3 No3 LANDLORDTOTHESTARS (Nap)
Trainer: James Evans – Jockey: Dougie Costello
The only recommendation on a tough card is LANDLORDTOTHESTARS, who dotted up at Southwell a fortnight ago and can defy a 6lb rise in the weights.
MEYDAN
Race 2 Dubai City Of Gold (Group 2)
No6 KEMARI
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: James Doyle
With Rebel’s Romance a late defector, Godolphin can look to KEMARI to prove an able deputy in this trial for the Dubai Turf. The Dubawi gelding might not have won since his days in England almost two years ago, but his two efforts against Siskany here stamps him as the one to beat. He was only two and threequarter lengths adrift of that one when fourth in the Nad Al Sheba Trophy, and holds scope for further progression as he gets used to his surroundings. Barnmate GLOBAL STORM can figure on his first start of 2023 but a more potent threat to the selection is SENOR TOBA, representing Hong Kong handler Caspar Fownes.
Prediction: 1st KEMARI, 2nd Senor Toba, 3rd Global Storm
Race 3 BURJ Nahaar (Group 3)
No5 EVERFAST
Trainer: Doug Watson – Jockey: Sam Hitchcott
EVERFAST could prove a better value option than veteran SECRET AMBITION. The pair are well drawn next to each other, raising the prospect they could lead the field into the home straight, but EVERFAST deserves a change of luck after his good run against Prince Eiji and has trained solidly for this. Secret Ambition looked like he was on the cusp of a return to winning ways when second to Fanaar at Jebel Ali last month, and is preferred for the exacta to CANVASSED, who is also overdue a success at the Carnival.
Prediction: 1st EVERFAST, 2nd Secret Ambition, 3rd Canvassed
Race 4 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint (Group 3)
No4 COACHELLO
Trainer: Gordon Elliott – Jockey: Pat Dobbs
While Elliott has his eyes fixed on Cheltenham he can be forgiven for turning away to concentrate on COACHELLO for this trial for the Golden Shaheen. The French-bred gelding has progressed with each of three races since arriving here, latterly taking out a Listed race at the end of January. He can add to the good record of Irish-trained sprinters at the Carnival, at the main expense of AL DASIM and CITY WALK.
Prediction: 1st COACHELLO, 2nd Al Dasim, 3rd City Walk
Race 5 Al Bastakiya (Listed)
No10 SOUTHERN ARTIST
Trainer: Bhupat Seemar – Jockey: Tadgh O’Shea
Although it doesn’t carry Pattern status this can throw up a valid prospect for Dubai World Cup night. MR RAJ has arguably the best form but the one that could make a giant step forward is the blinkered SOUTHERN ARTIST. Although handed a tricky draw on the outer, the gelded son of Munnings was a runaway winner on debut at Jebel Ali and in the popular colours of Fitri Hay can show his appreciation for the step up to a mile and a quarter by trumping the paper favourite and LAHRESH.
Prediction: 1st SOUTHERN ARTIST, 2nd Mr Raj, 3rd Lahresh
Race 6 AL MAKTOUM CHALLENGE (Group 1)
No3 BENDOOG
Trainer: Bhupat Seemar – Jockey: James Doyle
There have been stronger renewals of this race which makes the task facing BENDOOG a lot more straightforward. The Gun Runner colt chased home Algiers in the previous round of this contest and can now overturn earlier Carnival form with SALUTE THE SOLDIER. KAFOO indicated with an earning run in the Jebel Ali Mile that he could be about to strike form, and has to also enter calculations.
Prediction: 1st BENDOOG, 2nd Salute The Soldier, 3rd Kafoo
Race 8 JEBEL HATTA (Group 1)
No10 MASTER OF THE SEAS
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: William Buick
On the book REAL WORLD is going to be a tough nut to crack. His efforts to chase home Baaeed in the Lockinge Stakes and the Queen Anne last summer make him a banker if he’s fully fit following a 263-day break. Taking the risk that he isn’t, I shall row in with MASTER OF THE SEAS who looked awesome when taking out the Zabeel Mile and is perhaps the best horse that represents the Appleby/Buick combination on the night. VALIANT PRINCE has also impressed for that trainer, but will have work to do from his wide gate.
Prediction: 1st MASTER OF THE SEAS, 2nd Real World, 3rd Valiant Prince
Race 9 Mahab Al Shimaal (Group 3)
No3 ISOLATE (Nap)
Trainer: Doug Watson – Jockey: Pat Dobbs
The best bet on the card is ISOLATE, who should see this sprint set up for him by the fast pace likely to come from PONNTOS, SOUND MONEY and TUZ. The latter will have to use valuable energy if he’s to lead from gate 10, while ISOLATE has a perfect pitch three inside him from which his pilot should be able to bide his time and attack late from a stalking position. Although beaten by Tuz when they met last month, ISOLATE was making his debut at the track, and has learned plenty since.
Prediction: 1st ISOLATE, 2nd Sound Money, 3rd Tuz
