Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Friday’s racing coming your way from Doncaster, Sandown, Newton Abbot, Haydock Park and Beverley.
DONCASTER
Race 3 No1 SWEET WILLIAM (Nap)
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: Rab Havlin
SWEET WILLIAM should find the addition of blinkers giving him the adrenalin rush required to belatedly open his account in this long distance novice stakes. The half brother to St Leger hero Hurricane Lane has been crying out for this trip on a galloping track, and should make no mistake.
Race 5 No5 GRAND PROVIDENCE
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Hayley Turner
GRAND PROVIDENCE looked a true stayer when getting off the mark at Kempton which was his third earning effort in as many outings on the Polytrack surface. He enters the handicap arena getting weight from his foes and with a greater stamina test in front of him, which he should relish.
SANDOWN PARK
Race 4 No9 STARLORE (Nap)
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Ryan Moore
Kingman colt STARLORE has the perfect draw in this interesting novice which usually throws up a decent prospect. He’s shown up well in his work under Moore in Newmarket, and although faced with another talking horse in Godolphin’s Arabian Crown, should convert at the first time of asking.
Race 5 No1 CERTAIN LAD
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Hollie Doyle
CERTAIN LAD can benefit from the female touch by taking this Listed race under Hollie Doyle. She was the last jockey to win on the seven-year-old (at York last August) and in what should become a tactical battle looks to be on the right horse. Any further rain will bolster his chance.
Race 6 No10 SEAHOUSES (Each Way)
Trainer: Ralph Beckett – Jockey: Rob Hornby
SEAHOUSES wasn’t beaten far when graduating for a handicap mark at Goodwood last month. It was his best effort and augurs well for a bold showing over the same mile and threequarters journey. The Sea The Moon gelding has a competitive weight and will not mind any easing in the ground, being out of a mare by Selkirk.
NEWTON ABBOT
Race 1 No2 GUINNESS AFFAIR (Nap)
Trainer: Jamie Snowden – Jockey: Gavin Sheehan
GUINNESS AFFAIR impressed in the way he stretched clear at Hexham and would have a very appealing look if starting anywhere north of evens. He’s more reliable than Magistrato, while his only other opponent Stepney Causeway can have issues starting.
Race 4 No6 PINK EYED PEDRO
Trainer: David Brace – Jockey: Conor Brace
PINK EYED PEDRO made a good fist of it when going down in a close photo to Hunting Percival at Stratford on Tuesday. Both are carded to engage in a rematch, with the 7lb penalty afforded to the winner swinging the balance towards my selection.
HAYDOCK PARK
Race 3 No5 EXPENSIVE QUEEN
Trainer: Kevin Ryan – Jockey: Neil Callan
Ryan often brings his best juveniles to debut here, and his EXPENSIVE QUEEN is well worth a market check. She has plenty of stamina on the dam’s side of her pedigree, but if the vibes I’ve received for her are near the mark she will be in the shake-up.
Race 5 No9 TANGO MAN (Nap)
Trainer: Paul Cole – Jockey: Kevin Stott
TANGO MAN shaped with abundant promise when third in a big field at Kempton. That was an eye-taking first effort for his trainer, and he should go further forward on this switch to grass and trump the penalised Poet Master.
BEVERLEY
Race 6 No1 NORTHBOUND (Nap)
Trainer: Julie Camacho – Jockey: Paul Hanagan
NORTHBOUND looked like a horse on the way back to the winner’s circle when second at Carlisle. Lightly-raced this year, he can make this a first 2023 win on grass.
Race 7 No3 REVOQUABLE
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: David Allan
REVOQUABLE can emerge as the better of his trainer’s two contenders for this handicap round a right-handed bend. He needs to overcome the worst of the draw, but showed with his best run for a while at Redcar that he’s ready.
