Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Friday’s racing coming your way from Newmarket , Ascot , York , Chester , Salisbury and Hamilton Park on 12 July 2025.
NEWMARKET
Race 1 No8 ORION’S BELT
Trainer: Richard Hannon – Jockey: Ryan Moore
ORION’S BELT failed to menace after being backed for a race named after her trainer’s father, Richard Hannon, at Salisbury. She is going to be streetwise for this second outing, with Ryan Moore a key factor to her winning chance.
Race 3 No4 MORE THUNDER (Nap)
Trainer: William Haggas – Jockey: Tom Marquand
MORE THUNDER appeared unlucky not to bring off a big ante post gamble in the Royal Hunt Cup in which his jockey endured issues with his whip and reins when they became tangled in the closing stages. Without that unfortunate incident he would definitely have prevailed, and made it three from three for his new trainer. The Night Of Thunder colt offers little value in such a competitive handicap, but should find himself in command at the business end and will be very hard to beat.
Race 4 No7 MISTER WINSTON
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
Churchill colt MISTER WINSTON can take advantage of the 16lb he receives from paper favourite Bedouin Prince in this 3yo only handicap. When break8ng his maiden at Chester the selection was asked to go about his business before the home turn and it should have taught him plenty.
Race 6 AL BASTI EQUIWORLD DUBAI JULY CUP (Group 1)
No9 FLORA OF BERMUDA (Each Way)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: James Doyle
Last year’s 2000 Guineas winner Notable Speech is a fascinating addition to the sprinting ranks and could easily take care of business for owners Godolphin. He’s joined in the field by stablemate Symbol Of Honour who seeks a fifth success from a sixth outing this year and can’t be ruled out. Inisherin is trying to bounce back from a defeat at Royal Ascot, a remark that also applies to Believing. Spy Chief is an interesting roughie who I shall definitely save on but FLORA OF BERMUDA gets the vote. The Dark Angel filly found only Lazzat and Satono Reve her superiors in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (Group 1) at Ascot and looks over priced for her new owners Wathnan Racing.
Prediction: 1st FLORA OF BERMUDA, 2nd Spy Chief, 3rd Notable Speech, 4th Symbol Of Honour
ASCOT
Race 1 No3 CREST OF FIRE (Nap)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: George Bass
CREST OF FIRE ran into a very smart foe in the unraced Hankelow at York, and while no match for that colt came out much the best of the remainder. The Phoenix Of Spain colt is very well regarded at West Ilsley Stables, and on a third start is strongly fancied to open his account.
Race 2 CORNISH ORCHARDS SUMMER MILE (Group 2)
No4 NEVER SO BRAVE
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: David Probert
A hallmark of Balding’s training over the last couple of years has been how well he’s done with horses owned by Saeed Suhail. NEVER SO BRAVE is a case in point, as the gelding has looked a different horse in his two races this year, when unlucky not to score at Chester and then hosing up in a Class2 over 1400 metres at this course. He’s making a big jump up in class but carries abundant confidence to post for a stable that has a plethora of chances throughout the day.
Race 4 No7 CALLISTO DREAM
Trainer: Ed Bethell – Jockey: Cieren Fallon
CALLISTO DREAM made it two successes in three starts when landing some good bets at Goodwood and has to be of serious interest racing off a mark of 80 on a first handicap assignment. She came home unchallenged in spite of carrying a penalty at the West Sussex venue, but her connections could think again should it remain dry.
Race 6 No9 REDORANGE
Trainer: Clive Cox – Jockey: David Probert
With a solid frame finish at Royal Ascot, REDORANGE served notice that he can earn in 1000 metre handicaps at the major meetings and over the same strip the gelding can trouble the judge again. Blue Day is one to also consider for exotics.
YORK
Race 2 No1 APOLLO ONE
Trainer: Peter Charalambous – Jockey: Paul Mulrennan
APOLLO ONE was a Group 3 winner last year, and in a select campaign ran a blinder under his big weight when just out of the money in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot. With his touch of class he can make this a first success of 2025, though a saver is recommended on outsider MISS ATTITUDE.
Race 3 No11 SEE THAT STORM (Nap)
Trainer: Ed Bethell – Jockey: Callum Rodriguez
The John Smith’s Cup is a race to savour in which SEE THAT STORM can put up another good show. He’s a winner of four of his six career starts, and when beaten into second in the historic Zetland Gold Cup and a competitive Class2 over this course and distance lost no caste in defeat. He’s a strong traveller who finds plenty off the bridle, and has a likeable will to win. HAND OF GOD ran well at Royal Ascot after being backed, and is the one that can cause the Nap most problems, while ARCHIVIST seems to have benefitted from a change of scenery and could have gone under the assessor’s radar. FOX LEGACY should also be considered on just a third start for his trainer.
Prediction: 1st SEE THAT STORM, 2nd Hand Of God, 3rd Archivist, 4th Fox Legacy
Race 6 No7 LETSBEFRANK (Each Way)
Trainer: Jim Goldie – Jockey: Paul Mulrennan
A speculative advice is LETSBEFRANK who was a three times winner and placed in his other three starts in 2024 but has shown little so far this season. However, on a return to sand in the Northumberland Plate the Frankel gelding tan through beaten horses in eye taking fashion at the end, convincing me that he’s getting ready to win again, and I can’t afford to think this won’t be D-Day.
CHESTER
Race 3 No7 EXCELLENT BELIEVE (Each Way)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Edward Greatrex
EXCELLENT BELIEVE enjoys the luxury of the rail in this race around a lap of the Roodee. It is a big jump up the class ladder into Listed from winning back-to-back novices, but echoes the high regard in which the Make Believe gelding is held by his trainer.
Race 6 No6 WHATSGOINGONMARVIN (Nap)
Trainer: Sir Mark Prescott – Jockey: Poppy Scott
In a huge move up the trip ladder, WHATSGOINGONMARVIN opened his account on a first run of 2025 at Ayr. He will experience different ground today, but in receipt of bundles of weight can make short work of his rivals.
SALISBURY
Race 3 No5 PALIO DI SIENA (Nap)
Trainer: Jamie Osborne – Jockey: William Carver
Sioux Nation colt PALIO DI SIENA finished a clear second to a well supported winner on his Ffos Las introduction from which he has progressed in his work. He can cause problems for penalised favourite Swiss Lightning in what should prove a strictly two horse affair.
HAMILTON PARK
Race 1 No5 SIXCOR ( Nap)
Trainer: Linda Perrett – Jockey: Kaiya Fraser
SIXCOR has been edging closer to a return to winning ways and the seven-year-old can make this a belated first triumph at Hamilton on just a fourth career visit to the course.
