Neil Morrice best bets and tips – Friday, 17 October 2025

HAYDOCK PARK

Race 1 No5 COEDANA
Trainer: Ed Bethell – Jockey: Callum Rodriguez

COEDANA can kick off an attractive card for betting by completing a hat-trick. Though lacking experience on grass, her successes on the all-weather suggests she will appreciate a further move up in trip, while on just a sixth career start she holds further scope for progression.

Race 4 No4 ILLY’S ROO (Nap)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Tom Marquand

ILLY’S ROO did not go unbacked when opening his account at Salisbury where after a tardy start he was well on top at the line. The Australia gelding looks a good prospect for nurseries in the closing weeks of the season, and can follow-up.

REDCAR

Race 3 No1 BEYOND THE BAR (Nap)
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: David Allan

BEYOND THE BAR made a race of it when beaten in a photo by the useful Real American in soft ground at Catterick. The principals pulled clear and similar forcing tactics could see the Bangkok colt open his account, as he will be fully streetwise and should enjoy this better going.

Race 7 No5 EVOCATIVE SPARK
Trainer: John Riches – Jockey: Shane Gray

Riches does well with cast offs from other stables but he’s yet to get a full tune out of EVOCATIVE SPARK. That could change today as the Frankel gelding has shown in his last two starts that he’s on the cusp of a breakthrough, while after 48 career outings this is his first visit to Redcar.

FAKENHAM

Race 5 No4 POLICE ACADEMY (Nap)
Trainer: Fergal O’Brien – Jockey: Mr Ben Sutton

POLICE ACADEMY is a four times winner for her trainer, latterly opening her account over fences at Uttoxeter in the early summer. The ground looks ideal for her in a race that’s cut up in her favour, while she has a top amateur taking 5lb off her back.

UTTOXETER

Race 2 No4 SHABALKO D’HERM (Nap)
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies

This stable has unveiled some promising novices through October and SHABALKO D’HERM appeals as another likely winner. The Irish point scorer shaped well on his only start under Rules when second at Market Rasen where he was backed from odds against to odds on. Following a subsequent breathing operation he can show that the losses sustained that day were merely lent.

Race 4 No9 DISCO DAVIS
Trainer: Dan Skelton – Jockey: Tristan Durrell

DISCO DAVIS won at Lingfield in January was second at Warwick and then put in a cracking run to finish just out of the money in the very competitive EBF Final at Sandown, where he drifted in the betting yet kept on in promising fashion. He will probably improve this season, and though several can win this he needs respecting.

NEWCASTLE

Race 3 No3 PULL THE RUG (Nap)
Trainer: Ed Bethell – Jockey: Oisin Orr

PULL THE RUG makes plenty of sense competing at the base of the weights in a compressed handicap and on the back of a recent win. The Mehmas filly was well on top at the end of that Leicester contest and should be equally as effective on her first run on the Gosforth Park Tapeta surface.

Race 5 No4 PALADIN
Trainer: Charlie Johnston – Jockey: Jack Mitchell

Both of PALADIN’s successes this year have happened on grass, but the Justify gelding signalled with a near miss when returned to the all-weather at Southwell that he’s ready to win again. This is just a sixth run on sand for the chestnut, who should have more to offer.

Race 7 No4 KIRKDALE (Each Way)
Trainer: Ed Bethell – Jockey: Hollie Doyle

KIRKDALE comes with risks attached after his underwhelming display at Catterick but it could be too soon to give up on him granted the promise he showed in just three starts as a juvenile. He was placed on his only start on sand to suggest he could easily bounce back, especially with a visor added, and Hollie Doyle in his saddle.