Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing coming your way from Chester, York, Sandowns Park, Bath, Uttoxeter and Leicester on 17 June 2023.
YORK
Race 2 No7 DARKNESS (Each Way)
Trainer: David O’Meara – Jockey: Danny Tudhope
DARKNESS came within an ace of cashing in on new forcing tactics when second at Goodwood last week. That short head defeat suggests the former smart French Listed winner is ready to post a first success on English soil, and he is well drawn to attack.
Race 3 No4 QUICKTHORN (Nap)
Trainer: Hughie Morrison – Jockey: Jason Hart
QUICKTHORN tasted Group 2 success when completing a fine hat-trick in the Lonsdale Cup here last August. That 14 lengths demolition of Coltrane has worked out stupendously well, and after good runs in defeat in the Dubai Gold Cup and the Yorkshire Cup the six-year-old is ready to cope with a trip slightly short of his best, and affirm his liking for the Knavesmire.
Race 6 No2 WHAT’S THE STORY
Trainer: Keith Dalgleish – Jockey: Tom Marquand
From the rail, WHAT’S THE STORY can take away a cheque and confirm his well-being for a trainer who is to hand in his licence at the end of the season. The nine-year-old is a strong traveller, and though yet to win at York has run well here in the past.
CHESTER
Race 2 No5 COPPER KNIGHT (Each Way)
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: Sean Kirrane
COPPER KNIGHT has gone eleven races since taking out this contest 12 months ago. He’s slipped back onto an attractive mark, and from a perfect draw can gain a popular triumph for a stable that’s starting to run into form.
Race 3 No7 POWER OF DARKNESS (Each Way)
Trainer: Charlie Fellowes – Jockey: Kieran Shoemark
POWER OF DARKNESS is a speculative advice for this middle distance handicap following an improved effort at York, where he was just out of the money behind Lady Eros. The jury is out on whether a move to Newmarket has assisted him, but if able to recapture near the best of his old form he can prove dangerous.
Race 6 No5 ROMAN DRAGON (Each Way)
Trainer: Hugo Palmer – Jockey: James Doyle
Locally-trained ROMAN DRAGON is a multiple scorer around this specialist track and signalled with a good run at Haydock that he’s on the cusp of a return to winning ways. He’s in the ideal spot in the gate to get onto the lead and to prove very hard to catch.
SANDOWN PARK
Race 2 No7 NEW DIMENSION (Each Way)
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Ryan Moore
A very interesting runner in this Class 2 handicap is NEW DIMENSION. The Ulysses gelding enjoyed a select 2022 campaign which ended with a solid first run at this level at Yarmouth. This is a belated return to the fray for the four-year-old but he’s been in very good form at home and has the right man on board.
Race 5 No5 THE GOAT
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: William Buick
When Buick teams-up with his former boss it’s worth taking heed, which draws my attention to THE GOAT. It’s an ignominious name for a horse with talent, shown in his placed efforts at Nottingham and Newcastle. The chestnut has done well physically for his close season break, and can take the spoils in what looks a hot maiden.
BATH
Race 4 No4 OUTREACH (Each Way)
Trainer: Mark Usher – Jockey: Joey Haynes
There may be value to be had from OUTREACH, who shaped well when second in a three-runner affair at Wolverhampton, but could surprise previous winners Rogue De Vega and Crow’s Nest at a working man’s price.
Race 7 No3 CHERRY COLA (Nap)
Trainer: Sheena West – Jockey: Frederick Larson
CHERRY COLA has been in good form with a smooth success at Yarmouth and placed efforts at Lingfield. In her favour is the capable apprentice riding her for the first time, and she can stave off the threat of top-weight Russian Rumour.
UTTOXETER
Race 2 No1 CARLO DU BERLAIS
Trainer: Fergal O’Brien – Jockey: Conor Brace
CARLO DU BERLAIS came back to land an identical race on his chase debut over this course and distance last month. The former Irish pointer has few miles on his racing clock, and can successfully give away weight to his foes for his in-form connections.
Race 4 No2 DO IT FOR THEY SEN (Nap)
Trainer: Kerry Lee – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
DO IT FOR THEY SEN bolted up here last month on his first outing for nearly four months. Despite being pestered by a loose horse the nine-year-old jumped well and came home unchallenged with tonight’s jockey in the plate. If turning out in similar mood he can stave off the attentions of hat-trick seeker Line Of Descent.
Race 5 No2 TANGO ECHO CHARLIE
Trainer: Dr Richard Newland – Jockey: Charlie Hammond
TANGO ECHO CHARLIE demonstrated his liking for this course when taking out a novices’ handicap hurdle last May. He also earned on his other visit in novice company, and looks well worth a market check.
LEICESTER
Race 6 No6 HAVANA HEAT (Nap)
Trainer: Charlie Hills – Jockey: Saffie Osborne
This is a new trip for HAVANA HEAT, who was doing his best work at the finish when second on a return to grass at Brighton last week. Narrowly beaten in both outings this season, the Havana Grey gelding deserves a change of luck.
Race 7 No5 UNDER CURFEW
Trainer: Tony Carroll – Jockey: Mollie Phillips
As a horse that is running into form, UNDER CURFEW can cash in on getting weight from his rivals in the lucky last. The seven-year-old put together a superb four-race winning sequence under Phillips two years ago, and though winless since, has proved a regular earner, including to second under her in an apprentice’s race at Goodwood last time.
