Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing coming your way from Newbury, Ayr, Bangor-on-Dee, Brighton, Thirsk and Nottingham on 20 April 2024.
NEWBURY
Race 1 DUBAI DUTY FREE FINEST SURPRISE JOHN PORTER STAKES ( Group 3)
No2 HAMISH
Trainer: William Haggas – Jockey: Tom Marquand
HAMISH is yet to win at this track but his three visits all resulted in near misses, while he assembled an impressive four-race Group 3 unbeaten record through 2023 that numbered the Ormonde at Chester, the Silver Cup at York, the Glorious Stakes at Goodwood and the St Simon Stakes when it was transferred to Newmarket. On each occasion, he experienced various levels of cut in the ground, and he should again have underfoot conditions to suit. CERTAIN LAD won his last two in 2023 and has worked well leading into this. While he might be ignored in the betting, it wouldn’t be a total surprise if he finished in the money.
Race 2 DUBAI DUTY FREE FRED DARLING STAKES (Group 3)
No4 RELIEF RALLY (Nap)
Trainer: William Haggas – Jockey: Tom Marquand
Frankel filly RELIEF RALLY returns to the place of one of her biggest triumphs for this recognised trial for the 1,000 Guineas. She delivered a telling turn of foot to take out the Super Sprint here in July, and when following-up in the Group 2 Lowther at York was making it four successes from five outings in her juvenile season. On the back of encouraging vibes from Newmarket she can repel the challenge of Regal Jubilee.
Race 3 WATERSHIP DOWN STUD TOO DARN HOT GREENHAM STAKES (Group 3)
No11 ZOUM ZOUM
Trainer: Ralph Beckett – Jockey: Rob Hornby
ZOUM ZOUM is exempt from running in the 2,000 Guineas, but the gelding can tarnish the hopes of a couple in the field with the Classic engagement by stretching his unbeaten sequence to four. In both of his starts on turf, he relished the easy conditions including when odds-on for a Listed contest at Saint-Cloud. One that could also trouble the judge at an elevated price is SON, whose trainer has a good record in the race.
Race 4 No19 LOOK BACK SMILING (Each Way)
Trainer: Gemma Tutty – Jockey: Laura Coughlan
Hold up horse LOOK BACK SMILING overcame a customary tardy start to finish with a wet sail when scoring on his reappearance at Doncaster. It was a second success on the trot for the chestnut on the Town Moor, and on both occasions, he acted well in the easy conditions. His high draw may prove an advantage up the straight course, though I shall have a saver on METAL MERCHANT, who can also acquit himself well in these conditions.
AYR
Race 2 No9 MONTGOMERY
Trainer: Venetia Williams – Jockey: Charlie Deutsch
After completing a hat-trick over fences around the smaller tracks, MONTGOMERY takes a step up in grade that he’s well capable of handling. The seven-year-old hasn’t been unduly pressed in any of those successes, is an economical jumper and should act on the going and the track.
Race 3 CORAL SCOTTISH CHAMPION HURDLE (Grade 2)
No5 L’EAU DU SUD
Trainer: Dan Skelton – Jockey: Harry Skelton
L’EAU DU SUD did his level best to justify strong ante post support when second in the County Hurdle. As that was only the gelding’s third outing of the season there could be plenty more to come from him, and he’s in the right hands to end the season on a high. In what is a handicap rather than a Graded race it’s hard to rule out many of the 15 protagonists but for exotic wagering I would also include FAVOUR AND FORTUNE, CRACKING RHAPSODY and AFADIL.
Race 5 CORAL SCOTTISH GRAND NATIONAL HANDICAP CHASE
No4 BEAUPORT (Each Way)
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Jordan Nailor
BEAUPORT did us a good turn when overcoming some steering issues to gamely land the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter. The performance endorsed the belief held by his trainer and jockey that he’s now put behind him some niggling issues, and can continue to enhance his status in the top long distances chases. While higher in the weights, this course should suit the eight-year-old, who runs in the colours of 1983 Aintree Grand National hero Corbiere. MR VANGO is one that can do well granted his stable’s very good record with its staying chasers. He put in a very solid effort to finish third in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham last month, and with his bold front-running style on ground he adores could prove tough for the others to reel in. GIT MAKER has the look of a horse that’s been laid out for the race and also needs respecting on just a fourth outing of the season for Jamie Snowden. And MR INCREDIBLE has to go into the mix granted he’s trained by Willie Mullins who is now attempting to secure a first British trainers’ title. The eight-year-old unseated in the Grand National last week but has come out of it completely unscathed.
Prediction: 1st BEAUPORT, 2nd Mr Vango, 3rd Mr Incredible, 4th Git Maker
BANGOR-ON-DEE
Race 1 No1 GRAND ALBERT (Nap)
Trainer: Donald McCain Jnr – Jockey: Brian Hughes
McCain and Hughes field a strong team for this meeting and GRAND ALBERT can prove the pick. He chased home some solid yardsticks before opening his account over two and a half miles at this course and should enjoy the longer distance. He’s one of the best bets of the day.
Race 6 No3 GALUNGGUNG
Trainer: Donald McCain Jnr – Jockey: Brian Hughes
The unpronounceable GALUNGGUNG didn’t have to beat much in order to gain a first success under Rules at Hexham. However, that should have given the grey a confidence boost. He’s the least exposed runner in this switch to a handicap, and can follow up on the way to a bountiful end-of-season campaign.
BRIGHTON
Race 2 No7 VIOLET LOVE (Nap)
Trainer: George Boughey – Jockey: Billy Loughnane
Havana Grey is enjoying a good spell with his progeny, of whom VIOLET LOVE should take care of business in this two-year-old maiden. The filly ran green before staying on for a second on her Southwell introduction and is going to be a lot more streetwise.
Race 5 No8 CHOURMO (Each Way)
Trainer: Mark Gillard – Jockey: John Egan
I thought CHOURMO ran a lot better than his final placing implies at Wolverhampton last month. On this first run on grass for his trainer, the gelded son of Postponed needs a careful market check, and could easily outrun his double-figure odds.
THIRSK
Race 3 No6 NEVER SO BRAVE
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Saffie Osborne
NEVER SO BRAVE is Stoute’s only runner of the day and should be well up to taking care of business in a weak-looking maiden. The No Nay Never colt met future Group 1 winners Ancient Wisdom and Vandeek in his two starts in 2023 and is not going to run into anything near their calibre here.
Race 7 No14 KARDIA (Each Way)
Trainer: Ed Bethell – Jockey: Callum Rodriguez
One that catches the eye in this competitive Class3 is the Kingman filly KARDIA. She ran well in all three starts at three when showing an affinity for cut in the ground. She should get that in abundance in this second run in a handicap and can get right into the shake-up.
NOTTINGHAM
Race 5 No2 GREATNESS AWAITS (Each Way)
Trainer: Ben Pauling – Jockey: Callum Hutchinson
GREATNESS AWAITS is a rare runner on the Flat for Pauling, but is an interesting runner on a largely uninteresting card. After a fruitless campaign over hurdles, the selection has narrowly missed out on a cheque in two visits to Chelmsford. A switch back to turf can see him give hat-trick seeker Clansman a few problems.
