Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Friday’s racing coming your way from Sandown Park, Perth, Doncaster, Fontwell Park, and Chepstow 23 April 2026.
SANDOWN PARK
Race 3 BET365 GORDON RICHARDS STAKES (Group 3)
No1 ALMERIC (Nap)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
The first of three Group races on an excellent card can fall to ALMERIC. The Study Of Man colt looked progressive in a select 2025 campaign in which he bagged back-to-back Listed races before finding the Group 1 Champion Stakes a bridge too far. He’s best in at the weights for this first run back, and can take the spoils on the way to better things under champion Murphy.
Race4 BET365 MILE (Group 2)
No4 DANCING GEMINI (Each Way)
Trainer: Roger Teal – Jockey: Rossa Ryan
In easily the best race run this season, DANCING GEMINI can outperform his price. He made a winning return in the corresponding race 12 months ago, and though unable to add to his spoils finished second in the Lockinge and third in the Prix Jacques Le Marois.
He’s done plenty of work ahead of a return to his favourite course, which should stand him in good stead against the fierce competition from FIELD OF GOLD and ZEUS OLYMPICS who are proven performers first time out, the former when landing last season’s Craven Stakes.
Zeus Olympics extended his unbeaten run to four in the Group 2 Joel Stakes and is a very bright prospect. NEVER SO BRAVE adds lustre to an all star cast while the Godolphin runner OPERA BALLO is hard to rule out following his triumph in the Jebel Hatta, a Group 1 at Meydan.
Race 5 BET365 CLASSIC TRIAL (Group 3)
No4 RAAHEEB
Trainer: Owen Burrows – Jockey: Rossa Ryan
Another good mount for Rossa Ryan is RAAHEEB who could enter calculations for the Derby if taking out this fascinating trial. As a brother to Baaeed and Hukum he represents the top Shadwell breeding, and although having had just one outing at Ascot could be a major force this season.
ACTION is a son of Frankel who when second in the Group 1 Doncaster Futurity looked every inch the type that wants to go further. He will relish this mile and a quarter and is the first from a bunch of 3yo colts that Aidan O’Brien will saddle for the trials in England in the next few weeks.
WISE PRINCE looked like he could be well above average when storming clear on his Nottingham debut, and is another who will be right at home operating over a longer trip.
DONCASTER
Race 4 No5 WELBURY (Nap)
Trainer: Ed Bethell – Jockey: Callum Rodriguez
Ardad gelding WELBURY justified market confidence on a return to action and first outing on sand at Southwell where he was extending all the way to the line. He has scope for progression on just a fourth career start this afternoon, and can keep up the good work.
Race 5 No9 OH YES YOU DO
Trainer: David Menuisier – Jockey: Saffie Osborne
At the base of the weights, OH YES YOU DO can make a winning return. The daughter of Zarak was handed the softly softly treatment by her trainer who resisted over campaigning her last year. That patience can start to bear fruit as she reappears off what could well prove a lenient mark.
PERTH
Race 2 No9 EXPRESS SURPRISE (Nap)
Trainer: Clive Boultbee-Brooks – Jockey: Ned Fox
Of the two from his stable, EXPRESS SURPRISE can prove best and make this a fourth triumph from his last five outings. The seven-year-old exudes a good attitude to his racing and is hard to shake off. That was illustrated in his latest win at Chepstow where he hunted down a clear leader. This is another step up the ladder, but his able rider helps matters by taking 3lb off.
Race 3 No8 INFERNO SACREE (Each Way)
Trainer: Nigel Hawke – Jockey: Murray Dods
Confirmed front runner INFERNO SACREE might take no prisoners in this long distance handicap hurdle. He did this column a couple of favours before being denied in a muddling affair at Taunton. Today he can defy his big price if able to dominate.
Race 7 No2 TYSON
Trainer: Dan Skelton – Jockey: Harry Skelton
TYSON was the final leg of a notable coup when scoring at Newcastle. He will start at prohibitive odds for the Skeltons but if this is the last chance saloon he looks the one to get you out of it, in spite of having taken a big hike in the ratings.
FONTWELL PARK
Race 4 No2 WEST ORCHARD (Nap)
Trainer: Joe Tizzard – Jockey: Freddie Gingell
WEST ORCHARD reverts to hurdling following a couple of earning runs over fences and the move can pay off. The Nap ran well in defeat on his previous hurdling start at Wincanton, and is a strong traveller who has both the ground and trip to suit.
Race 5 No9 GORCOMBE MOONSHINE
Trainer: Robert Walford – Jockey: Harty Kimber
Though having a tendency to jump left, GORCOMBE MOONSHINE has shown he operates around this figure-of-eight course and made a good fist of leading throughout on a recent visit. Taking that trait into account he put up a very good show when also finishing second on his previous outing at Hereford, and deserves to get his head in front.
CHEPSTOW
Race 1 No4 PIPING ROCK (Nap)
Trainer: Emma Lavelle – Jockey: Gavin Sheehan
Though getting into the money on a regular basis, PIPING ROCK wasn’t finishing off in his races which explains why he now returns from a breathing operation. It can make the difference, and afford him a first success under Rules.
Race 6 No2 WRECKLESS ERIC
Trainer: Jonjo O’Neill – Jockey: Jonjo O’Neill Jr
WRECKLESS ERIC lost ground at a crucial stage which could have made the difference between victory and defeat in the Imperial Cup. Though underwhelming at the Grand National meeting he’s been found a very good opportunity in a race which has cut up.
