Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing coming your way from Newbury, Newmarket , Thirsk , Bangor-on-dee , Uttoxeter and Doncaster on 17 May 2025
NEWBURY
Race 1 SKY SPORTS RACING ASTON PARK STAKES (Group 3)
No7 SUNWAY
Trainer: David Menuisier – Jockey: Kieran Shoemark
A cracking opener to Newbury’s biggest day of the Flat season. Al Aasy has a very good record at the course and looked as good as ever when taking out the Gordon Richards Stakes on his Sandown return. At eight he hasn’t lost any of his dash, and is the one that can give SUNWAY most to think about. The selection troubled the judge in both the Irish Derby and the King George last year whilst finishing off being far from disgraced in the Arc. He probably needed his first run back in the John Porter here, on which occasion he gained valuable experience of the course.
Race 3 No10 LIGHTENING MANN (Each Way)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Edward Greatrex
Kameko gelding LIGHTENING MANN operates well on the faster ground, as he showed when tenaciously holding all comers at bay at Newmarket. He had traded very short in running on his previous outing at Beverley only to fall in a heap which was clearly not his true running. As an upwardly mobile fast ground performer that gets a mile and a quarter but can operate over shorter, he could end up doing well overseas.
Race 4 BOYLESPORTS LOCKINGE STAKES (Group 1)
No2 DANCING GEMINI (Nap)
Trainer: Roger Teal – Jockey: Ryan Moore
The 2024 2000 Guineas winner NOTABLE SPEECH returns from a near 200 day absence having last been seen finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Mile. The Godolphin star locks horns again with ROSALLION, who followed him home at Newmarket 12 months ago before going on to win the Irish Guineas and the St James’s Palace Stakes. Richard Hannon’s colt needs to overcome an even longer lay off but is reported to have been showing all his old ability at home and this is his ground. His stablemate PERSICA is one that could make a ripple in the pond at a massive price but the ‘now’ horse in the field is undoubtedly DANCING GEMINI. Last season’s French Guineas runner-up has impressed on both 2025 outings in a Listed race at York and the Group 2 Sandown Mile. The son of Camelot is on the cusp of proving himself a proper Group 1 miler and can give Roger Teal his biggest training success.
Race 8 No9 HOT CASH
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: David Probert
Connections of Too Darn Hot colt HOT CASH have had a change of heart regarding the trip and now bring him back to a mile for this interesting finale. In a competitive affair he’s on a recovery mission, but has the ability to go close on well watered ground that should be acceptable for him.
NEWMARKET
Race 1 No9 LEADMAN
Trainer: David O’Meara – Jockey: Richard Kingscote
LEADMAN endured training issues before his move to O’Meara for whom he put in an encouraging first effort when second at Newcastle. The five-year-old engages in just a ninth career start here, and can take a step up the class ladder in his stride by going one better.
Race 3 No1 MYTHICAL GUEST (Nap)
Trainer: George Margarson – Jockey: Tom Queally
MYTHICAL GUEST stayed on for minor honours against a handicap good thing at Ascot. While having no secrets from the assessor, he is now ready to put his best foot forward and finish off best when hitting the rising ground.
THIRSK
Race 5 No7 BARLEY (Nap)
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: David Allan
BARLEY put in an eye taking first run back, and although unable to build on it when starting favourite on his latest outing is worth siding with on this belated first visit to Thirsk, where Easterby is leading trainer. If able to recapture his good form from last season he can prevail.
Race 7 No13 MOUNT KING (Each Way)
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: David Allan
Ex Irish MOUNT KING is a course and distance winner who races over his optimum trip of a mile. He’s knocked on wood on his last two starts when advised in this column, and has a perfect draw from which to obtain a handy early position on the tight turn into the home straight.
BANGOR-ON-DEE
Race 4 No4 OLD BRIDGE (Nap)
Trainer: David Pipe – Jockey: Jack Tudor
It’s hard to look past OLD BRIDGE in this weakly contested maiden hurdle. The chestnut troubled the judge in both races over hurdles for Gordon Elliott, and is an interesting recruit on his first run out of Pond House.
Race 7 No5 HEATHER HONEY
Trainer: Sue Smith – Jockey: Peter Kavanagh
Getaway mare HEATHER HONEY landed some good bets on her latest start at Newcastle last month where she improved for a step up in trip. It was the first time there had been any interest whatsoever for her in the market, suggesting there should be even better to come.
UTTOXETER
Race 5 No1 ISHOLO DU VIVIEN
Trainer: Donald McCain Jnr – Jockey: Theo Gillard
ISHOLO DU VIVIEN has done well since switching to fences with two successes and three frame finishes and is ready for this return to summer jumping. It’s his first visit to Uttoxeter, but he prefers a left-handed course.
Race 6 No2 MAPLE (Nap)
Trainer: Ruth Jefferson – Jockey: Jamie Hamilton
MAPLE failed to cut the mustard when with a top stable on the Flat, but has shown an aptitude for jumping hurdles without managing to win. He’s troubled the judge on all but one of his eight starts, while this is his best chance to break the deadlock for a while.
DONCASTER
Race 3 No3 KAMAKAMELEON (Each Way)
Trainer: Dylan Cunha – Jockey: Callum Rodriguez
KAMAKAMELEON attracted support before showing up well for a long way in the Brocklesby. The Kameko colt has been given time to get over those first day of the season exertions and has a top northern pilot in the saddle. He will be more streetwise, and in an open affair can claim a cheque.
Race 5 No8 DOTHAN (Nap)
Trainer: Ed Bethell – Jockey: Callum Rodriguez
DOTHAN backed up the promise of his select juvenile campaign when scoring on handicap bow and seasonal reappearance at Doncaster. He stretches out to 1200 metres tonight but ran well over the trip last year, and can prove even better at it.
Race 6 No9 BLUE TRAIN
Trainer: William Knight – Jockey: Callum Shepherd
BLUE TRAIN put in a career best when chasing home an improved rival at Windsor. The Blue Point gelding hadn’t shown much before that near miss and is the one horse in the field along with HOMELAND with scope for improvement.
