Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Monday’s racing coming your way from Ayr, Wolverhampton and Windsor on 17 July 2023.
AYR
Race 1 No1 BEECHWOOD STAR (Nap)
Trainer: Richard Fahey – Jockey: Oisin Orr
BEECHWOOD STAR hails from a yard whose juveniles invariably step up with the benefit of an outing under their belts. The Starspangledbanner colt was doing all his best work at the finish on his Thirsk introduction. More streetwise now, he rates the best bet on the card and should take care of business.
Race 2 No11 OUR DICKIE (Each away)
Trainer: Iaine Jardine – Jockey: Andrew Mullen
OUR DICKIE bounced back from an underwhelming run on the all-weather to go close over this course and distance. He is attractively weighted and just needs to surmount an outside draw to earn.
Race 5 No4 CLARINBRIDGE (Each Way)
Trainer: Noel Kelly – Jockey: Oisin Orr
Buratino filly CLARINBRIDGE didn’t have much luck racing at Dundalk before crossing the sea to score easily as a 25-1 roughie over course and distance last month. It signalled a big step up from the four-year-old who poses a big threat to hat-trick seeking Eye Up Its Jazz.
WOLVERHAMPTON
Race 2 No1 JUST JANET (Nap)
Trainer: David O’Meara – Jockey: Connor Planas
JUST JANET did us a favour when ending a sequence of ‘seconditis’ last week. She’s out for more under a 6lb penalty here, and with her confidence level boosted can defy a welter burden to follow-up.
Race 6 No4 ROGUE DE VEGA
Trainer: Tom Clover – Jockey: Clifford Lee
ROGUE DE VEGA is a one-time winner that has picked up prize money on all three career starts. He served up an encouraging first effort on turf when chasing home Crow’s Nest at Bath, and on this handicap bow can go one better.
WINDSOR
Race 2 No9 THE SMILING WOLF (Each Way)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Rose Dawes
Several in this novice have public form and will know more of what’s required, including THE SMILING WOLF. The Twilight Son colt ran green on his introduction over this course and distance when easy to back, but having learned from that experience can take away a cheque under the same capable apprentice aboard on that occasion.
Race 5 No5 ARDBRACCAN (Each Way)
Trainer: Mike Appleby – Jockey: Alistair Rawlinson
ARDBRACCAN looked like a filly getting ready to win when third to Bobby Dassler at Nottingham. It was her best of three runs since undergoing wind surgery and since joining Appleby who can exact further improvement from her.
Race 7 No4 WHISPERING ROYAL (Nap)
Trainer: Alan King – Jockey: Rossa Ryan
On a first start in Britain WHISPERING ROYAL shaped encouragingly to finish fourth in a blanket finish at Doncaster. Beaten just a length and a half, he’s likely to enjoy the easy conditions he’ll encounter this evening and on handicap debut is a very interesting runner who can earn and should win.
