Neil Morrice best bets and tips – Saturday, 02 May 2026

NEWMARKET

Race 3 No9 MISTER WINSTON
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Jason Watson

MISTER WINSTON posted a second victory at HQ when making all and having a bit to spare at the Craven meeting. He landed some good bets and should prove just as effective over this slightly longer trip and from his new mark. It’s a tougher race, but he’s gone forward.

Race 4 HKJC WORLD POOL PALACE HOUSE STAKES (Group 3)

No11 MISS ATTITUDE (Each Way)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Billy Loughnane

MISS ATTITUDE had no luck when contesting a Listed race at Bath where she ran into a wall of horses and her jockey had to sit and suffer. This is a step up the class ladder but conditions will suit, while she’s certain to enjoy a strong pace to aim at up the rising ground. Loughnane is a new pilot for the mare, and can prove an asset to her.

Race 5 BETFRED 2,000 GUINEAS (Group 1)

No GSTAAD
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien – Jockey: Ryan Moore

This does not look the most powerful of Guineas at first sight and the key could be to go with last season’s Dewhurst Stakes form in which GSTAAD chased home the ill-fated Gewan. The sole Coolmore representative ran on after being switched to fail by threequarters of a length with DISTANT STORM a length and a half back in third. GSTAAD then went on to take out the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar. The son of Starspangledbanner has done well physically and is worthy of his place at the head of the market. He just needs to end the short sequence of Classic prospects from Ballydoyle that have recently underwhelmed. Distant Storm has also visually improved from last autumn and looked very good in his work on the Heath. The Tatttersalls Stakes winner is greatly respected. George Boughey’s BOW ECHO takes an unbeaten in three record to post under Billy Loughnane and must also have a strong chance on paper of giving the rider his first Classic winner. He signed off 2025 with a strong finish in the Royal Lodge Stakes over this course and distance but I’ve had mixed messages about his work, and will pay him a watching brief. If there’s a joker in the pack it could be Godolphin’s second runner KING’S TRAIL who posted a couple of all-weather successes in the winter but will need to be very smart if he’s to transfer that Kempton Polytrack form into Classic success on grass.

Prediction: 1st GSTAAD, 2nd Distant Storm, 3rd King’s Trail, 4th Bow Echo

Race 7 No5 GAMRAI (Nap)
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: Oisin Murphy

GAMRAI was a convincing winner of Kempton’s Rosebery Stakes on his second outing in a handicap. He went through the gears in the straight to come home unchallenged and can consolidate in a finale where for some he will be the ‘jump out of jail’ wager.

GOODWOOD

Race 2 No1 ARGENTINE TANGO (Each Way)
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: David Allan

ARGENTINE TANGO ran well here when second to the very speedy Lady Iman in the Molecomb. The three times winner made a pleasing return when troubling the judge in a Group 3 at Chantilly a fortnight ago when unconsidered in the betting. That should have put the cutting edge on her to make the long journey from Malton worthwhile.

Race 3 No3 BLUE BOLT (Nap)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Colin Keane

Keane will hope BLUE BOLT enjoys more luck in running than when second to Fallen Angela in the Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket. The daughter of Blue Point raced wide apart from her rival, and though looking to be going the better had plenty to do. She’s a very progressive individual who should take the spoils on the way to much better things ahead.

Race 4 No1 PERCY SHELLEY
Trainer: James Owen – Jockey: Cieren Fallon

I can pass on very good vibes for PERCY SHELLEY, who comes back looking to shake off a run of seconditis on the Flat. Happily he’s been in winning form as a hurdler, with succcess at Uttoxeter and Ludlow, and this has cut up into a perfect opportunity for him to post a first success on the level in the UK.

Race 5 No6 TANJEN (Each Way)
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: David Allan

While yet to score on turf, TANJEN has made several visits to the frame counter including a near miss at Leicester in September. She skipped an opportunity last month to wait for this and can run well at a big price for her lucky owner.

THIRSK

Race 2 No5 TOWN QUEEN (Nap)
Trainer: Karl Burke – Jockey: Sam James

TOWN QUEEN chased home a more experienced stablemate on her Pontefract introduction where she ran green but wasn’t losing ground on her rival at the finish. She again meets a penalised winner, but is much wiser and can go one better.

Race 7 No6 SUNNY ORANGE
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: Duran Fentiman

Fresh from a success at Beverley where he has posted all four of his wins since joining Easterby, SUNNY ORANGE can notch a welcome follow-up success to show he’s not a one trick pony. He put in a strong run up the hill to prevail that day and can cope with a step into Class5 to strike while the iron’s hot.

DONCASTER

Race 4 No6 PAPA COCKTAIL
Trainer: Michael Herrington – Jockey: Jack Mitchell

Though struggling when contesting Class3 sprints previously, PAPA COCKTAIL has progressed since his last try and looks attractive getting plenty of weight from his opponents in a race that’s cut up in his favour.

Race 7 No6 EVOCATIVE SPARK (Nap)
Trainer: John Riches – Jockey: Ethan Tindall

Hat-trick seeker EVOCATIVE SPARK has been making hay with back-to-back wins at Catterick. This is a different type of track entirely, but the Frankel gelding has his tail up and will be hard to beat.