Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Friday’s racing coming your way from Doncaster, Yourmouth, Chester, Newcastle and Newmarket on 30 June 2023.
DONCASTER
Race 3 No3 BIGBERTIEBASSETT (Nap)
Trainer: Tom Dascombe – Jockey: Liam Keniry
Almanzor colt BIGBERTIEBASSETT was very easy to back on debut at Newbury but served up an encouraging performance to chase home Rosallion. If making normal progress over a slightly longer trip that should suit, he has a favourite’s chance to open his account, although any move for Stormy Waves might prove significant.
Race 4 No2 DOUBLE OBAN
Trainer: Hugo Palmer- Jockey: James Doyle
DOUBLE OBAN was gameness personified when battling for the spoils at Leicester. It looked only a matter of time before he would be swallowed up, but the gelding dug deep into his reserves for the win. On a similar galloping course and over a longer trip he can prevail in this three-year-old only handicap.
YARMOUTH
Race 2 No1 SWORDPLAY (Nap)
Trainer: Charlie Johnston – Jockey: Joe Fanning
SWORDPLAY will start at prohibitive odds but is the ready-made answer to this novice following his comfortable Hamilton success. A 5lb penalty should not halt his progress in a race where his form is easily the best.
Race 4 No4 ZOUZANNA
Trainer: Roger Charlton – Jockey: David Probert
ZOUZANNA enters the handicap arena off a mark of 84 after opening her account from the front at Haydock. It was a deserved win following her two near misses as a two-year-old, and granted an easy lead the Zoustar filly should prove hard to peg back.
CHESTER
Race 3 No4 UP THE JAZZ (Nap)
Trainer: Richard Fahey – Jockey: Oisin Orr
There have been few more unlucky losers than UP THE JAZZ in the seller at York. Every time the Buratino colt went for a gap the door closed on him, while he had to be reined back and come round three opponents to launch his final challenge that failed by just a head. He’s a nimble individual who should enjoy these tight turns, and is strongly fancied to claim redemption.
Race 7 No1 SOUL SEEKER (Each Way)
Trainer: David O’Meara – Jockey: Danny Tudhope
SOUL SEEKER could hardly have been handed a better draw from which to obtain a good attacking position and despite having to give away weight all round remains a good bet to at least finish in the money in this race round one bend.
NEWCASTLE
Race 3 No1 FINE WINE (Each Way)
Trainer: Scott Dixon – Jockey: Phil Dennis
FINE WINE can advertise his lightning early speed to good effect in the featured Gosforth Park Cup. He didn’t manage to cross the divide from handicaps to Listed class when fading if Regional’s race at Haydock, but he’s a dual scorer on the Tapeta surface here, with a good overall record at the course, and can bounce back to trouble the judge.
Race 4 No4 NASHWA (Nap)
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: Hollie Doyle
It’s not often that Group 1 Classic winners visit Newcastle, but Prix de Diane and Nassau Stakes heroine NASHWA takes in this Group 3 to try to set herself up for a possible return to Goodwood for another tilt at the same contest. The daughter of Frankel was beaten into second in the Prix de l’Opera on Arc day and then claimed a minor cheque in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Keeneland. Her defeat as an odds-on favourite in a Group 2 on comeback at Saint-Cloud casts aspersions about whether she’s as good as she was, but this is a great opportunity for her to do just that.
Race 8 No11 BOMB SQUAD (Each Way)
Trainer: John Mackie – Jockey: Callum Rodriguez
Consistency is the strong suit of BOMB SQUAD, who is enjoying the rub of the green in this concluding sprint handicap can notch a deserved first success of the season, and a first since Christmas.
NEWMARKET
Race 1 No5 LOOBY ( Each Way)
Trainer: Charlie Hills – Jockey: Kieran Shoemark
Havana Grey filly LOOBY debuted in a Windsor race that was preceded by a thunder and lightning storm and eventually started by flag in testing conditions. Her mid-division finish is there to be improved upon, and the way she’s worked subsequently suggests she’s learned much from those first steps taken.
Race 2 No5 FLASH BARDOT
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: George Bass
FLASH BARDOT was given a deserved break following a spring campaign that saw her open her account on the Lingfield Polytrack and finish third on handicap bow and first run on grass at Beverley. The daughter of Sixties Icon is fresh and fancied for this first outing in over two months.
Race 6 No5 LULWORTH COVE (Nap)
Trainer: Richard Hannon – Jockey: Sean Levey
LULWORTH COVE was a good winner for us at Lingfield when looking good value for her victory margin. The New Bay filly was progressive in a light juvenile campaign and appears ready to show further improvement in a race where she will need to if she’s to win, although she could hardly be in better form at home.
