Neil Morrice brings you all of his best bets and tips for Friday’s racing coming your way from the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar as well as the best of the rest from Newmarket, Wetherby and Uttoxeter.
DEL MAR
Race 6 BREEDERS’ CUP JUVENILE TURF SPRINT – Grade 1
No 2 AESTERIUS
Trainer: Archie Watson – Jockey: James Doyle
Japanese colt ECORO SIEG is very highly regarded in his homeland, but equating his form with that of the Europeans and Americans is a tortuous task. He could blow them away, but having liked everything I’ve seen about AESTERIUS this week I will stick with him.
The Mehmas colt is strong at the gate which makes his two draw less of a hindrance than it could have been, while he blazed home in Group races at Longchamp and Doncaster to make him the professional choice.
Aidan O’Brien believes it was wrong to hold WHISTLEJACKET up in his latest start at Newmarket which means the Prix Morny winner will have no option but to try to crack out from his middle position in gate seven.
Prediction: 1st AESTERIUS, 2nd Ecoro Sieg, 3rd Whistlejacket
Race 7 NETJETS BREEDERS’ CUP JUVENILE FILLIES – Grade 1
No3 IMMERSIVE
Trainer: Brad Cox – Jockey: Manuel Franco
All eyes will be on Frizette winner SCOTTISH LASSIE, who dotted home in that Grade 1, but Nyquist filly IMMERSIVE is unbeaten in three for a trainer who is dangerous with this type of individual.
The selection has looked focussed in training this week, and can cap a memorable season by taking her score to four from four. LA CARA took a while to come of age, but her last two winning efforts suggest she can get into the shake-up for trainer Mark Casse.
Prediction: 1st IMMERSIVE, 2nd American Bikini, 3rd La Cara
Race 8 JOHN DEERE BREEDERS’ CUP JUVENILE FILLIES TURF – Grade 1
No8 HEAVENS GATE (Each Way)
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien – Jockey: Wayne Lordan
While LAKE VICTORIA is the choice of Ryan Moore and will go off a short priced favourite, the Cheveley Park Stakes winner faces strong competition from her own stablemate HEAVENS GATE, who after getting her campaign back on track with a Group 3 success at the Curragh put in a piece of work at home that suggests she’s better than ever. Granted her forecast price being three times that of Lake Victoria I’m giving her as a speculative bet to upset the applecart, with THOUGHT PROCESS my idea of the best of the Americans.
Prediction: 1st HEAVENS GATE, 2nd Lake Victoria, 3rd Thought Process
Race 9 FANDUEL BREEDERS’ CUP JUVENILE – Grade 1
No1 EAST AVENUE (Nap)
Trainer: Brendan Walsh – Jockey: Tyler Gafflione
The draw can play a big part on where this long lasting part of the Breeders’ Cup set up heads. Medaglia D’Oro colt EAST AVENUE was afforded the rail, and if breaking alertly can enjoy a smooth and uninterrupted trip.
CHANCER McPATRICK is going to need a lot of luck from the outer if he’s to stretch his unbeaten sequence to four, but he has plenty of natural early pace and could do so. Del Mar Futurity winner GAMING brings valuable experience of the track to the table for Bob Baffert, and looms as a danger to all.
Prediction: 1st EAST AVENUE, 2nd CHANCER McPATRICK, 3rd GAMING
Race 10 BREEDERS’ CUP JUVENILE TURF – Grade 1
No4 AL QUDRA
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: James Doyle
AL QUDRA didn’t enjoy the best of luck in running when claiming a minor cheque in the Grade 1 Summer Stakes, won by NEW CENTURY. The son of No Nay Never has been afforded a favourable slot in the gate whilst his rival is posted out wide, giving him the chance to turn the tables.
The selection’s stablemate AOMORI CITY has also found himself a lot wider than ideal, leaving unbeaten US colt ZULU KINGDOM one that could do well for Chad Brown, especially as he’s drawn alongside my main pick.
Prediction: 1st AL QUDRA, 2nd Zulu Kingdom, 3rd New Century
NEWMARKET
Race 3 No7 NARDRA (Nap)
Trainer: William Haggas – Jockey: Daniel Muscutt
Although she is the least experienced runner in this fillies’ Listed race, NARDRA could turn out to be the best. The daughter of Night Of Thunder powered to a wide margin triumph on her debut in a soft ground Haydock novice, and though taking a big step up in class should be equal to it, on the way to better things.
Race 6 No12 CHOURMO (Each Way)
Trainer: Mark Gillard – Jockey: John Egan
CHOURMO is an agile individual whose preference so far has been for Brighton. He’s on a far less undulating track today, but this isn’t the hottest of heats. He could easily have a big say in affairs, with a jockey that knows him well in his saddle.
Race 7 No4 SEA JOURNEY
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: Kieran Shoemark
The nightcap has fallen apart but remains an interesting heat in which the beautifully bred SEA JOURNEY can prevail. While her effort petered out in the final furlong and a half of her latest start at Kempton, she should benefit from being brought back in trip and returned to grass for owner George Strawbridge.
WETHERBY
Race 1 No2 KART D’ESTRUVAL (Nap)
Trainer: Dan Skelton – Jockey: Harry Skelton
KART D’ESTRUVAL looks to have the bases covered in this two and a half mile novices’ hurdle. The four-year-old cut the mustard in two outings over hurdles in France, signing off with a cosy success at Fontainbleu in the early spring. On paper he looks an exciting prospect for the Skeltons, and he should prove hard to beat.
Race 3 No3 WELSH CHARGER
Trainer: Alistair Ralph – Jockey: David Noonan
WELSH CHARGER proved a good servant to his owners with two wins from only four hurdling starts last season. They came at the Class4 level, and while he couldn’t handle a step up into Class2 on his final start he remains a horse with scope for improvement.
Race 6 No3 SAUCE OF LIFE
Trainer: Nicky Richards – Jockey: Danny McMenamin
SAUCE OF LIFE spent time recuperating from a setback and although the oldest member of the field remains open to progression. He picked up a minor cheque when returning to action at Perth last month. This is only the seventh race of his life, and I suggest his shrewd handler hasn’t kept him going for the sake of it.
UTTOXETER
Race 2 No9 SUNSET MARQUESA (Nap)
Trainer: Joe Tizzard – Jockey: Brendan Powell
SUNSET MARQUESA brings very strong form to the table for her first run over jumps courtesy of making a podium finish behind Honky Tonk Highway in a Listed bumper at Sandown in March. A winner on her Ascot introduction, she also troubled the judge in two further Listed races and has jumped well at home ahead of this switch of racing discipline.
Race 3 No8 STAR WALKING
Trainer: Harry Fry – Jockey: Daryl Jacob
Jukebox Jury mare STAR WALKING delivered on her only start in an Irish point and was a tenacious winner of her only start under Rules in a Fakenham bumper. Well regarded by her connections, she can remain unbeaten on the switch to hurdling.
Race 7 No11 PEP TALKING (Each Way)
Trainer: Billy Aprahamian – Jockey: Kevin Brogan
Plenty of support followed PEP TALKING into his first run for Aprahamian at Southwell, only for the gelding to make a costly error at the first which kiboshed his chances of dominating throughout. A winner over fences at Huntingdon last season, he’s handily weighted and can bounce back.
