Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips from Monday’s racing coming your way from Bath, Windsor, Beverly, Warwick and Kempton on 1 May 2023.
BATH
Race 5 No7 HIROMICHI (Nap)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: David Probert
HIROMICHI is proving a good servant to his connections with a succession of winning and earning runs since undergoing a wind op. Confined to racing round the smaller tracks, the grey has gone under the radar and now finds himself with a good chance to post a third triumph on turf on a first visit to this course.
Race 7 No1 BOBBY DASSLER
Trainer: Tom Ward – Jockey: Charles Bishop
BOBBY DASSLER has inched closer to a first win of 2023 in his three outings, latterly when second to Havana Goldrush here last month. The selection should be all the better for that battling defeat and can make this a belated first career win.
WINDSOR
Race 2 No2 PUMALIN PARK (Nap)
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Richard Kingscote
PUMALIN PARK can successfully give 7lb to Royal Cape in what looks a straight match between the pair. The Nap landed some shrewd bets in what was a similar situation on his seasonal return at Lingfield. He should prove just as effective now switched to turf.
Race 4 No6 INDIAN CREAK
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Rose Dawes
INDIAN CREAK is an infrequent winner but likes this course and seeks a fourth win here. He often attracts support, and having needed his first run back can raise his game under an apprentice that has ridden him both on the track and at home.
Race 6 No9 ALBUS ANNE (Each Way)
Trainer: Jimmy Fox – Jockey: Georgie Dobie
Mayson filly ALBUS ANNE gave best to Mr Zee on her reappearance here but is weighted to turn the tables on her foe. The selection should relish the testing conditions, and can post a welcome success for her veteran handler.
Race 7 No5 BRIDGE
Trainer: Brian Meehan – Jockey: Daniel Muscutt
Golden Horn colt BRIDGE troubled the judge on his final two starts last year at Ascot and Kempton. He’s almost certain to enjoy a big step up in distance for this seasonal return and can open his account.
BEVERLEY
Race 2 No6 MISTAMAC
Trainer: John Quinn – Jockey: Jason Hart
The one that takes my eye in a competitive-looking affair is MISTAMAC. The Profitable gelding should gain his revenge on his Newcastle conqueror Herakles after being trained with handicaps in mind in a light campaign in his juvenile season.
Race 7 No4 COLOANE (Nap)
Trainer: William Jarvis – Jockey: Franny Norton
COLOANE has the best form and can make it count switched back to turf after a couple of near-misses on the all-weather. Norton is a welcome addition to her chance, having partnered her for the first time to a best effort so far at Wolverhampton in March.
WARWICK
Race 2 No7 QUEENS GAMBLE (Nap)
Trainer: Oliver Sherwood – Jockey: Brian Hughes
QUEENS GAMBLE embarks on an eagerly awaited campaign over hurdles with her trainer mindful that she will remain a novice for next season regardless of how many times she wins in the summer. In fact it’s unlikely that we will see much of her after this, but her record in bumpers stamps her as useful, while she was far from disgraced with her midfield finish in the Festival Bumper at Cheltenham.
Race 7 No2 PARC D’AMOUR
Trainer: Kim Bailey – Jockey: Gavin Sheehan
Dual-purpose horse Elios D’or will start favourite for this two-mile handicap hurdle but may have to play second fiddle to the unexposed PARC D’AMOUR. The selection returns from a near four-month absence after placing in two of his three outings in novice and maiden hurdles. A smooth winners of his only other start in a Doncaster bumper, he’s fresh and fancied for this return to action.
Race 8 No6 PASSING REFLECTION (Each Way)
Trainer: Alan King – Jockey: Gavin Sheehan
Regal Reflection and Blue Bikini are fresh from recent wins and command respect, but the best value lies in PASSING REFLECTION, who knocked on the door in three hurdling outings in the new year and can progress now tackling a longer trip and refreshed from her mid season break.
KEMPTON PARK
Race 2 No4 NAME IN LIGHTS
Trainer: Joe Tizzard – Jockey: Brendan Powell
Though his chasing career hasn’t gone exactly to plan, NAME IN LIGHTS remains a good prospect and he can get his season back on track success in this novices’ handicap chase. The seven-year-old showed his best hurdling form at this time last year, is lightly raced and can bounce back after falling on his latest start.
Race 3 No2 ASTRONOMIC VIEW
Trainer: Sue Gardner – Jockey: Lucy Gardner
ASTRONOMIC VIEW had good form in bumpers last year before making a promising start to his jumps career with an earning run at Ffos Las. On return from a five-month absence he is just preferred to the equally promising AJP Kingdom.
Race 5 No2 QUEENS ROCK (Nap)
Trainer: Nicky Henderson – Jockey: Nico de Boinville
QUEENS ROCK has kept her powder dry since a smooth success on handicap debut at Doncaster. The lightly-raced mare appears to have benefitted from a breathing operation, and being out of a mare by Presenting should appreciate the better ground and pay to follow in the coming weeks.
Race 6 No5 BEFORE MIDNIGHT
Trainer: Sam Thomas – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
BEFORE MIDNIGHT could be the value call in this tightly-knit handicap chase where it’s hard to strike a line through any of the seven runners. Respect is paid to top-weight Red Rookie, while Dolos will be suited by the track and drying ground, but I’m happy to give Before Midnight another chance as he was on the premises for much of the way in the Red Rum at Aintree, while he should appreciate the return to a right-handed course.
