Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Friday’s racing coming your way from Newbury, Ayr, Fontwell Park, Exeter and Bath on 21 April 2023.
NEWBURY
Race 2 No6 MARSHAL DAN (Each Way)
Trainer: Heather Main – Jockey: Joshua Bryan
MARSHAL DAN usually performs well at this stage of the season, and ripened by a very solid comeback effort when third at Redcar looks in a good place to improve into the winner’s enclosure. He scored over seven furlongs here last autumn and enjoys a bit of cut in the ground. As long as the going doesn’t dry out too much he should confirm his liking for the track with another earning run.
Race 5 No8 STAR CALIBER (Each Way)
Trainer: Amanda Perrett – Jockey: Jim Crowley
STAR CALIBER is a speculative advice for this Class 2 based on a whole host of good efforts in defeat before he switched stables in the winter. He seems just as strong on good, good to soft or good to firm ground and if a change of scenery has benefitted him he can trouble the best of these, with Vino Vitrix one to have a saver on and include in all exotic permutations.
Race 6 No9 TIRIAC (Each Way)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Connor Beasley
TIRIAC is closely related to Nastase who the Channons did well with a couple of years ago. The Sixties Icon colt wants cut in the ground, being out of a mare by Clodovil and having already shown a penchant for testing conditions with his runaway success in heavy on the final day of the 2022 campaign at Doncaster. While he will definitely come on for this first run back, it would be dangerous to let him go unsupported.
Race 8 No1 ARAMINTA (Each Way)
Trainer: Henry Candy – Jockey: Dane O’Neill
Gleneagles filly ARAMINTA can reward win and place support in an interesting nightcap, having shown promise in her preparation at home for this first career start. Her trainer could do with a decent prospect to build his season around, and while the selection could run green she will not be disgraced.
AYR
Race 1 No10 AFADIL
Trainer: Paul Nicholls – Jockey: Harry Cobden
Rarely does the champion trainer leave the Scottish National fixture empty handed and he has good prospects of taking out this opening two-mile handicap hurdle with AFADIL. A former winner on the Flat for Francis Graffard in France, he bagged a Listed race at Musselburgh on only a second start over jumps, and in a light campaign most recently chased home stablemate Blueking D’Oroux at Ascot.
Race 4 No4 BASS ROCK
Trainer: Sandy Thomson – Jockey: Ryan Mania
Although he underperformed at this course when fourth to One Fine Man in late February, BASS ROCK remains a lightly-raced chaser who should have a lot more to offer over fences. On the basis of an earlier triumph in a good race at Carlisle and near miss at Wetherby, he is over-priced for this and can bounce back.
Race 6 No5 SNOWY CLOUDS (Nap)
Trainer: Nicky Richards – Jockey: Sean Quinlan
Richards always lines a couple up for Scotland’s most prestigious meeting, and he looks to have the answer to this two-mile handicap hurdle with hat-trick-seeking SNOWY CLOUDS. The grey shoulders a 7lb penalty for a clear cut success at Market Rasen and can make this a fourth triumph from just five outings over fences.
FONTWELL PARK
Race 1 No6 KANSAS DU BERLAIS (Nap)
Trainer: Gary Moore – Jockey: Jamie Moore
In what looks a straight match KANSAS DU BERLAIS can repel Gitche Gumee. The Nap blew out when strongly supported here two runs back, but his trainer’s team are going a lot better now, and after an impressive course and distance success during Cheltenham Festival week he has his tail up.
Race 7 No3 SECRET SQUIRREL
Trainer: Hughie Morrison – Jockey: David Bass
SECRET SQUIRREL stamped his authority on a Taunton bumper in early March to score at the first time of asking. The chestnut is well thought of at Summerdown Stables, and in the colours of his trainer’s wife can remain unbeaten.
EXETER
Race 1 No2 CHANTILLY HAZE (Each Way)
Trainer: Phil Dando – Jockey: Conor Ring
CHANTILLY HAZE enjoys a pronounced experience edge on her foes in this mares’ maiden hurdle and is embarking on a first outing outside of handicaps since November 2021. She’s been backed on several occasions without managing to deliver, but is unlikely to get a better opportunity than this and can convert at the 23rd attempt.
Race 5 No2 BEGIN THE LUCK (Nap)
Trainer: Brian Barr – Jockey: Bradley Roberts
Following his deserved success at Newton Abbot, BEGIN THE LUCK can press home his advantage in a race that’s not as competitive as it looks at first sight. He jumped and travelled well to end a frustrating sequence of frame finishes and might well have derived a confidence boost to take back to the track with him.
BATH
Race 5 No4 MILTEYE (Nap)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Charles Bishop
Cable Bay colt MILTEYE should command plenty of support in this novice as he brings much the best form to the table, and has done well physically through the winter. His only outing saw him finish second in a Newmarket maiden last back end, while he went well under Bishop in his winding-up gallop earlier in the week.
