Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Friday’s racing coming your way from Brighton, Thirsk, Market Rasen, Goodwood and Haydock Park on 7 June 2024.
BRIGHTON
Race 1 No4 CHARLATAN
Trainer: David Simcock – Jockey: George Bass
CHARLATAN has been taken out of a couple of turf races since an underwhelming run back on grass at Yarmouth. The three-times all-weather scorer in the winter now tries his luck on a switchback course which for a heavy-topped horse is a gamble. However, if he’s priced up as the outsider in the race I shall speculate.
Race 4 No1 CHOURMO (Nap)
Trainer: Mark Gillard – Jockey: John Egan
Egan got a great tune out of CHOURMO when making all over course and distance in April and again when the combination were narrowly denied here last month. The Postponed gelding is clearly happier racing on turf and can use his track craft to good effect in this bottom-grade handicap.
THIRSK
Race 4 No7 A GIRL NAMED IVY (Nap)
Trainer: Michael Dods – Jockey: Connor Beasley
A GIRL CALLED IVY suggested she had improved for her winter break when scoring first time back at Ayr and is the least experienced in this Class5 handicap but the one with most room for progression. Furthermore, her trainer and jockey are firmly amongst the winners.
Race 5 No2 KINGS MERCHANT
Trainer: Ed Bethell – Jockey: Callum Rodriguez
Although beaten when favourite for a Class3 at Chester, KINGS MERCHANT was beaten just a length and a half. The Wolverhampton scorer was having just a third outing on grass and should be more at home on this more conventional track, as he will need to be in order to repel Noel Fox and Miss Bodacious.
MARKET RASEN
Race 6 No2 ISHOLO DU VIVIEN (Nap)
Trainer: Donald McCain Jnr – Jockey: Theo Gillard
ISHOLO DU VIVIEN broke the ice in authoritative fashion at Stratford last week to suggest he’s going to be a horse to follow over fences through the summer, I fancy him to defy a 7lb penalty as the only bet on this tricky jumps card.
GOODWOOD
Race 1 No1 OUTGUN (Each Way)
Trainer: Alan King – Jockey: Oscar Palmer
King has his Flat team in good order so it will not surprise me if OUTGUN lives up to his name and ends a long sequence of near misses in this apprentices’ handicap. The grey has limited experience racing on grass, but each of his three races on that surface have resulted in frame finishes in Grade 1 courses. He was also in good form when last seen on Polytrack back in February, and is ready for this return from a four-month absence.
Race 6 No6 GENESIUS (Each Way)
Trainer: Sir Mark Prescott – Jockey: Morgan Cole
Despite his habit of finding one to beat him, GENESIUS ran very well on his seasonal return and this could be the time to get on. He proved easy to back for that Lingfield race but stuck on well in the closing stages behind Premier Ligne. Cole was on board for his latest success at this time last year, and the combination can again give a good account.
HAYDOCK PARK
Race 5 No8 CUBAN MELODY (Nap)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
Havan Grey filly CUBAN MELODY makes plenty of appeal on handicap debut from the base of the weights in this distaffers’ contest. She stylishly landed some good bets at Windsor on a first outing on grass, and been ridden by Murphy in each of her three starts. In receipt of a stone from hooded top weight Ananda, she can give that rival plenty to think about.
Race 6 a No9 SEAGULLS ELEVEN
Trainer: Hugo Palmer – Jockey: Harry Davies
SEAGULLS ELEVEN, a son of his trainer’s 2000 Guineas winner Galileo Gold, can take the spoils in an interesting novice in which most of the top stables in the country are represented. The selection shaped well when taking away a minor cheque at this course last month. He won’t find the going as soft but has made good progress in the ensuing fortnight, and can open his account.
Race 7 No8 AMANCIO (Each Way)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: James Doyle
AMANCIO is proving a captain of industry for his trainer and a horse who never fails to light up the board. He’s been unfortunate not to post more than one success this year and is fancied to recoup the mosses sustained on him when he was beaten over course and distance last month. Having Doyle in his saddle for the first time is an obvious plus, and it wouldn’t surprise me if plenty of use is made of him.
