Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Friday’s racing coming your way from Doncaster, Chester, Sandown Park and Salisbury on 13 September 2024.
DONCASTER
Race 2 No3 JONQUIL (Nap)
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Ryan Moore
JONQUIL never flinched when squeezed up towards the end of his Sandown introduction and should have learned plenty from it. The Kingman colt looked in harmony with himself in a solo blowout on Tuesday and can take this step up in class in his stride to remain unbeaten.
Race 3 CARLSBERG DANISH PILSNER FLYING CHILDERS STAKES (Group 2)
No8 TROPICAL STORM (Each Way)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
A return to five furlongs proved just what the doctor ordered for TROPICAL STORM when he landed the Listed Roses Stakes at York last month. It showed his underwhelming run in Goodwood’s Richmond Stakes to be all wrong, and stamps him as a sprint prospect to follow in races like this and the Cornwallis Stakes at Ascot.
Race 4 BETFRED HOWARD WRIGHT DONCASTER CUP (Group2)
No5 TRUESHAN
Trainer: Alan King – Jockey: Hollie Doyle
Doncaster had at time of writing escaped the rain that fell over much of the North earlier in the week. Normally that would put me off siding with TRUESHAN in this historic stayers race, but the senior member of the party is in fact adaptable to good ground these days, and taking stock of his record on Town Moor can make a good fist of repeating last year’s game success and confirming those placings with SWEET WILLIAM. He’s been beaten by that rival and by COLTRANE at different stages of the current season, but back on his happiest hunting ground he can not only repel that pair, but also stave off the challenge of GREGORY, who could give him most to worry about.
Prediction: 1st TRUESHAN, 2nd Gregory, 3rd Sweet William, 4th Coltrane
Race 6 No3 COMA CLUSTER
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Richard Kingscote
In naming Kitten’s Joy filly KINGSCLERE owners Qatar Racing must hope they have a decent prospect, and indeed the vibes out of Park House Stables in that village are that she will more than pay her way. She should finish in the shake-up but marginal preference is for COMA CLUSTER, representing soon-to-retire Stoute and carrying the famous Niarchos colours. The daughter of Wootton Bassett has stepped out in lively fashion in her preparatory work and is one to follow, regardless of what happens here.
CHESTER
Race 3 No1 BOB MALI
Trainer: Ollie Sangster – Jockey: S D Bowen
BOB MALI made an immediate impact when scoring on debut at Ayr for which he carries a penalty. That however will seem less of a burden granted the colt’s slot on the rail for this sharp 1200 metres and he should remain unbeaten
Race 7 No12 PHOENIX OF DREAMS (Each Way)
Trainer: John Quinn – Jockey: Jason Hart
With figures of 43222 PHOENIX OF DREAMS has shown consistent ability but also proved expensive to follow. Three near misses on the bounce may be bettered as the gelding returns to his optimum trip of 1400 metres, and granted the rub of the green from his midfield draw he should be in the thick of things at the finish.
Race 8 No2 CELTIC WARRIOR (Nap)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Jason Watson
CELTIC WARRIOR rates one of the best bets on this card under former champion apprentice Watson. The selection has yet to win on turf, but for most of the mile and a quarter, he seemed set to do so on his latest start at Epsom. He didn’t excel himself on his only previous visit to the Roodee, but is strongly fancied to take care of business.
SANDOWN PARK
Race 4 No2 NEW BOMBAY (Nap)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Callum Hutchinson
NEW BOMBAY proved a runaway scorer on his first run in a nursery at Chester before being worried out of it in the final strides of his next handicap assignment by Claim To Glory at Wolverhampton. The New Bay colt appeared to get going too late and found himself on the wrong part of the track over this course last time in a run that was better than it looked. He should relish stretching out to a mile and can turn the tables on the winner of that race, Corriamo.
Race 5 No2 BACK SEE DAA (Each Way)
Trainer: Karl Burke – Jockey: Jim Crowley
LEADMAN is interesting now switched to a handicap, although after looming like the winner he didn’t finish off his race at Kempton last time. Plenty will back him to recoup the losses, though BACK SEE DAA is one that provides value. As a daughter of Lope De Vega, she will relish the cut in the ground, while her only occasional visits to the track leave her unexposed. She’s contested some better races than this and Crowley is a rare booking for the Burke stable.
Race 7 No10 AMANCIO (Each Way)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Charles Bishop
AMANCIO is a thoroughly genuine performer who from his place at the bottom of the handicap can extend an impressive earning run. He’s proven at the distance and should make it a tenth-frame finish from 12 outings in 2024, and on a first visit to the Esher course.
SALISBURY
Race 1 No12 WAY OF STARS (Nap)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: David Probert
Balding has several with chances spread across the day’s four meetings including WAY OF STARS, who showed abundant promise when chasing home a smart rival on Goodwood debut. He impressed in his winding-up gallop for this and can recoup the losses from that defeat.
Race 2 IRE-INCENTIVE IT PAYS TO BUY BRITISH DICK POOLE STAKES (Group 3)
No8 TABITI
Trainer: Ralph Beckett – Jockey: Rossa Ryan
It’s good to see this race having been rescheduled following its initial postponement through waterlogging. The Kingman filly TABITI remains my pick and can stay unbeaten, having created a favourable impression when trouncing her rivals at Newmarket. The race doesn’t look as competitive as in its original form, and my selection can cement her reputation as a budding star in Kimpton Stables.
Race 5 No5 KING CHAOS
Trainer: Karl Burke – Jockey: Clifford Lee
In a fascinating novice, Yorkshire raider KING CHAOS can emerge triumphant. The grey will be a lot more streetwise than when claiming a minor cheque on his Windsor introduction and can cash in on the weight concession made to him by previous winners Military Academy and Valvano.
Race 6 No1 QUICKTHORN
Trainer: Hughie Morrison – Jockey: Tom Marquand
Sumo Sam only comes here if the ground is considered unsuitable at Doncaster, and if heading to that track leaves QUICKTHORN with what should be a straightforward task. The selection hasn’t been at his best in a select campaign through 2024 but this represents a big class drop and he can take care of business to tee himself up for the big staying races at the back end.
Race 7 No1 TIRIAC
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Clifford Lee
Strike has put together a fine earning sequence for his owners and has to go well, but he might have to play second fiddle to TIRIAC, whose chances have been elevated by the recent rain. The selection didn’t cut the mustard at Goodwood but made his bid on the wrong part of the track. A repeat of earlier efforts should see him firmly in the mix.
