Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing coming your way from Ascot, Lingfield Park, Haydock Park, and Leicester on 10 May 2025.
ASCOT
Race 3 No10 METAL MERCHANT (Each Way)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: David Probert
METAL MERCHANT has been a regular competitor in the big handicaps here, splitting his racing between seven furlongs and a mile. Last season’s Newbury Spring Cup winner returned in that race last month in which he travelled strongly before lack of condition took its toll in the final furlong. He is going to strip fitter and sharper, and with his ability to handle the faster ground should get into the shake-up, though as a hold up horse he always needs to enjoy the rub of the green, as well as being drawn on the favoured side of the track.
Race 4 No5 TURQUINO (Nap)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
TURQUINO was a late starter, but with two successes from as many starts to his name is making up for lost time. The Teofilo gelding attracted notable support for those races at Southwell and Newcastle and in his trainer’s opinion could develop into a useful performer in handicaps. He’s on grass for the first time, but has worked well on it at home.
Race 5 No4 CHARTWELL JOCK
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
From the same stable CHARTWELL JOCK can earn. The Churchill colt was a winner at Wolverhampton in January and when switched to turf for his seasonal return was worried out of it in the final half a furlong by Many Men at Doncaster. He should progress from that, and help make another good day for Park House.
LINGFIELD PARK
Race 3 No4 CANDYMAN STAN
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Jason Watson
CANDYMAN STAN regularly attracts support as was the case when he delivered on seasonal return at Brighton. This strong stayer is up two rungs of the handicap ladder today, but his shrewd handler appears to have found another very good opportunity for him.
Race 4 William Hill Lingfield Derby Trial Stakes
No7 STAY TRUE
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien – Jockey: Richard Kingscote
Coolmore swept the board in the Group and Listed races at Chester and now have two chances to bag another Classic trial with the lightly raced and unexposed STAY TRUE. The Galileo colt is a rare mount for the O’Brien stable for Kingscote and looks the part following his introductory triumph in a Leopardstown maiden last month. His stablemate PUPPET MASTER troubled the judge in the Royal Lodge at Newmarket and put in another good effort when fourth to Delacroix in a Group 3 at Leopardstown from which he should progress.
Race 5 William Hill Chartwell Fillies Stakes (Group 3)
No6 CATHEDRAL (Nap)
Trainer: Ralph Beckett – Jockey: Richard Kingscote
CATHEDRAL is another plum ride for Kingscote in this fillies’ feature. Her name had been barked all over the course before she landed the odds on debut at this course in September, and when moved onto the grass she only narrowly failed to land the Group 3 Oh So Sharp Stakes at Newmarket. She looks an ax citing prospect, and is one of the best bets of the day.
HAYDOCK PARK
Race 2 No6 WELSH CHARGER (Each Way)
Trainer: Alistair Ralph – Jockey: David Noonan
While the Swinton Hurdle doesn’t attract the class of horse it once did, it still makes abundant appeal as a betting medium, and in that respect I’m looking at WELSH CHARGER as a value option. The flagship horse from his stable, he has won six of his 12 starts over hurdles and was far from disgraced when just out of the money in the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr. On a first visit to this track he should be competitive, and stave off the challenges of OUR CHAMP, OOH BETTY and GIVEMEFIVE.
Race 4 No5 NEVER LET GO
Trainer: Ed Walker – Jockey: Paul Mulrennan
Kirkdale should improve from his first run back and is one for the notebook, but following her good effort at Wetherby, NEVER LET GO is preferred. The No Nay Never filly didn’t enjoy the rub of the green and was doing her best work at the finish to suggest today’s furlong longer distance will boost her chance.
Race 6 No4 KIKKULI (Nap)
Trainer: Harry Charlton – Jockey: Finley Marsh
Frankel’s half-brother KIKKULI has always had a lot to live up to but looks the go-to horse on his first run back in an interesting Listed contest. The son of champion miler Kingman was campaigned at a high level after breaking his maiden at Newmarket and might have been unlucky not to add to that. He returns as a stronger and mentally more mature individual, and is definitely one to follow this season.
LEICESTER
Race 3 No5 GLIMMER OF LIGHT (Nap)
Trainer: Ed Walker – Jockey: George Downing
GLIMMER OF LIGHT needs to prove her fitness after a near 180 day absence but she is an unexposed individual who could find progression to light up a poor card for wagering.
