Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Friday’s racing coming your way from the Newmarket July Festival, Ascot, York, Chepstow and Chester on 14 July 2023.
NEWMARKET JULY FESTIVAL (Day 2)
Race 4 TATTERSALLS FALMOUTH STAKES (Group 1)
No3 NASHWA
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: Hollie Doyle
Last year’s French Oaks winner NASHWA hasn’t enjoyed the rub of the green in her defeats at Saint-Cloud and Newcastle this year. Second in the Prix de l’Opera and fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Keeneland,she remains a top class filly who will not be inconvenienced by a drop back to a mile and a quarter. VIA SISTINA is a doughty foe who has her tail up after a six lengths demolition job in the Dahlia Stakes on the Rowley Course. She’s seeking to extend her winning sequence to four. Last year’s winner PROSPEROUS VOYAGE needs to step up from her placed run in the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes while CPPICE is an unexposed potential improver who could trouble the judge.
Prediction: 1st NASHWA, 2nd Via Sistina, 3rd Coppice
Race 5 No2 CAPULET (Nap)
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien – Jockey: Ryan Moore
The answer to this interesting maiden probably lies amongst the unraced runners, of whom CAPULET is the strongest message. The son of US Triple Crown hero Justify has shown plenty of ability in his preparation for this and along with Godolphin’s Emperor’s Star will command a good portion of the betting handle on the contest. Warm Spell brings the best public form to the table, and he should be involved.
ASCOT
Race 2 No3 IMPRESSIVE ACT (Nap)
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: Harry Davies
A recent gelding operation can assist IMPRESSIVE ACT to gain a first career success in a switch to this nursery. The beautifully-bred individual hasn’t managed to build on a highly promising first effort, but might well raise his game now in a different discipline (handicap).
Race 3 No3 METAL MERCHANT (Each Way)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: George Bass
METAL MERCHANT travelled well for a long way in the Britannia here last month only to fade into a midfield finish. From what is the most competitive race of its type run all year he’s now in a race he can win, though his trainer is concerned about the forecast of rain. If that transpires he will switch to a race at Newmarket on Saturday. So my advice is to back him if the going remains in his favour.
Race 5 No8 ELRAAED (Each Way)
Trainer: Owen Burrows – Jockey: Jim Crowley
This all-aged handicap can fall to the least experienced horse in the field, ELRAAED. The gelded son of Dubawi responded positively to cheek pieces to open his account in a Windsor novice which represented a big step up on what he’d shown previously. He faces strong competition from Intricacy and Lion Tamer, but looks capable of producing greater than normal progression.
Race 6 No7 INGRA TOR (Each Way)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Charles Bishop
INGRA TOR is another for whom cut in the ground would be a hindrance, but should conditions remain dry the Churchill gelding has a big earning chance. He’s developed physically into an impressive specimen and is raring to go on this switch from the all-weather to turf.
YORK
Race 3 No4 LOOKING FOR QUEEN (Each Way)
Trainer: Kevin Ryan – Jockey: Tom Eaves
This trainer/jockey combo did us a favour with another unraced juvenile filly in the same colours who landed some good bets at Haydock last week. LOOKING FOR QUEEN can show herself to be of the same ilk. She’s well worth a market check and could show herself to be too classy for her foes.
Race 4 No11 EL JASOR (Each Way)
Trainer: Charlie Fellowes – Jockey: PJ McDonald
With few miles on his racing clock EL JASOR needs to be taken seriously. The Le Havre colt isn’t as well drawn as main market rival Bleak, but if his pilot can get him smartly away and settled mid pack the combination can take away a decent sized cheque. The selection looked to have plenty in hand when opening his account at Redcar and can defy a 5lb rise for that.
Race 5 No7 BOSC GIRL (Each Way)
Trainer: Richard Fahey – Jockey: Oisin Orr
BOSC GIRL makes a lot of sense in this as long as she can circumnavigate the field from a tricky draw on the outer. The Zoffany filly has been knocking on the door in maidens, looking like a horse that will find her niche when switched to handicaps, as is the case today.
CHEPSTOW
Race 6 No7 PFINGSTBERG (Nap)
Trainer: David Simcock – Jockey: Luke Morris
The only advice on this tricky card is for PFINSTBERG in the nightcap. The chestnut has more scope for progressing than any of his opponents, and after a career best when earning last time, can now get off the mark.
CHESTER
Race 1 No7 PRINCESS NIYLA (Each Way)
Trainer: Hugo Palmer – Jockey: Paul Hanagan
From a stable that fields a strong team at its local course, PRINCESS NIYLA could be the answer to a competitive opener. The daughter of Night Of Thunder needs to overcome a horrible draw, but if doing so should pick up a cheque.
Race 2 No7 GOLDEN TRICK
Trainer: Hugo Palmer – Jockey: Hayley Turner
Equity Law did us a favour when scoring at Salisbury where he was heavily backed, but he might struggle to carry a penalty against the promising GOLDEN TRICK. The selection is a son of his trainer’s Guineas winner Galileo Gold who showed promise when finishing strongly on his Ayr introduction. He will be more streetwise now.
Race3 No2 PERSIAN PHOENIX (Nap)
Trainer: Charlie Johnston – Jockey: Franny Norton
For the best bet on a betting-friendly card PERSIAN PHOENIX has that honour. The grey is perfectly drawn to bolster her wide margin success at Wolverhampton. She has the right man in her saddle to get the job done.
