Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Friday’s racing coming your way from York, Newbury, Newmarket and Aintree on 17 May 2024.
YORK
Race 1- RUNNING QUEEN 7/2
RUNNING QUEEN can take the Clipper EBF Marygate Fillies’ Stakes at Listed level for Sam Sangster and Oisin Murphy.
The Kingman filly was the winner of a Salisbury conditions race when last seen in early May, a smart length-and-a-quarter success on soft ground that tees her up nicely for a step up in grade.
Race 2 – BOTANICAL 3/1
Impressive Hamilton handicap winner BOTANICAL will appreciate any ease in ground.
Trained by Roger Varian and looked a Group horse in the making when scoring that day and can make a winning reappearance in the Knights Solicitors Handicap.
Loyal Touch produced a solid effort finishing second in a competitive handicap at Chester last week.
Theoryofeverything shaped well both outings at Newmarket this season and could prove competitive off this mark.
Race 3 – DEVOTED QUEEN 5/2
The other Listed contest on the card is the Sky Bet Fillies’ Stakes, where Charlie Appleby’s DEVOTED QUEEN catches the eye on her third career start.
Another daughter of Kingman out of multiple Group race-winning mare Fintry, her two prior outings ended in success as she took a Newmarket maiden by a good margin last year and returned to action in April to win on the all-weather at Kempton.
Now returned to turf, she looks poised to take the next step in her career under William Buick.
Race 4 – TOWER OF LONDON 5/4
TOWER OF LONDON can rise above his rivals on the Knavesmire to lift the Boodles Yorkshire Cup.
Aidan O’Brien’s four-year-old made his winter travels to the Middle East a worthwhile venture when landing both the Red Sea Turf Handicap in Riyadh and the Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan.
Those lucrative triumphs came ahead of some respected performers and were a step forward on his European form from last summer.
The peak of that segment of his career was a fourth-placed run in the St Leger, where his stablemate Continuous may have been the clear winner but the placed horses finished fairly well bunched.
After some longer distance efforts since, Tower Of London drops down to a mile and six furlongs and looks the horse to beat under Ryan Moore.
Race 5 – LEAD ARTIST 5/4
LEAD ARTIST finished within a nose of First Conquest over 1m at Newmarket when they met debuting in April.
Lead Artist is now better off at the weights and can reverse placings while First Conquest holds strong claims once more for Appleby and Buick.
Under Siege rates the obvious third choice based on his highly promising debut runner-up effort at Newbury.
Race 2 – CRACKSKING 5/1
CRACKSKING returned after a seven-month absence with a very credible fifth in an eighteen runner course and distance event, so may come forward for the Unibet Handicap and a bold bid is anticipated.
Gallant Lion was a useful third in the same race. Another entitled to improve for reappearance effort.
Defence Of Fort ended previous campaign with a win at Sandown Park in August and resumes with solid chances.
Glam De Vega makes a reappearance following a lengthy break. Is very capable fresh but it is still a long lay off.
