Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing coming your way from Newbury, Newmarket and Doncaster on 20 May 2023.
NEWBURY
Race 2 No6 YIBIR
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: William Buick
Globe trotting YIBIR will outclass his field if he’s on his A-game for this return to action in the Godolphin silks. The hooded five-year-old escapes a penalty for winning the Group 2 Princess Of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket, and an inspection of his record reads five successes from his last nine outings, three in a pattern company and the others in stakes races in the States.
Race 3 No2 BERTINELLI (Each Way)
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien – Jockey: Ryan Moore
This is the hottest handicap for three-year-olds away from the Britannia at Royal Ascot and BERTINELLI has the profile to put in a big earning run. The son of US Triple Crown winner Justify skipped the Lingfield Derby Trial to wait for this, and following a solid run behind Alder at Cork can successfully revert to turf, with Exoplanet and Desert Hero dangerous to leave out of calculations.
Race 4 AL SHAQAB LOCKINGE STAKES (Group 1)
No8 MODERN GAMES (Nap)
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: William Buick
Newbury’s feature race of the Flat season can fall to MODERN GAMES who is a three-time stakes winner in America and a Group 1 winner in France. On a second successive visit to Keeneland he looked unlucky not to prevail in last month’s Maker’s Mark Mile and that should have blown away any cobwebs for this shot at another Group 1.
Popular in the betting this week, LAUREL will also command a good chunk of the handle on this and she’s been a good form at home since taking out a Listed race on Polytrack.
MY PROSPERO had to skip his intended comeback race at Ascot but his 2022 record in which he won three from five stamps him as both smart and dangerous.
MUTASAABEQ has looked a different horse since having blinkers added and should earn, while CHINDIT is a solid performer who could emerge as the best of the roughies following his game success when returning to the fray at Ascot.
Prediction: 1st MODERN GAMES, 2nd Mutasaabeq, 3rd May Prospero, 4th Laurel, 5th Chindit
Race 5 No1 BLESS HIM (Each Way)
Trainer: David Simcock – Jockey: Jamie Spencer
BLESS HIM was unsuited by the moderate pace and reduced field that made it harder for him to obtain cover when finishing with more ahead of him than behind in the Spring Cup. Returning to the same playing field, the veteran could cause a minor upset if as seems likely this is run at a decent clip, and he’s allowed some racing real estate in the closing stages.
NEWMARKET
Race 1 No9 SOUTH KENSINGTON (Nap)
Trainer: Hugo Palmer – Jockey: Ross Coakley
SOUTH KENSINGTON can by scoring on her introduction add further weight to the exploits of stallion Blue Point in his rookie season. She’s been showing up well at home, and in this first six furlong race open to juvenile fillies will not be disgraced.
Race 2 No10 TOTNES
Trainer: Sndrew Balding – Jockey: David Probert
TOTNES has triumphed on two of her three starts for her in form trainer this year, and came away with a genuine excuse when beaten at Wolverhampton. The Kingman filly lacks experience on turf, but if taking to it can trouble the judge in a more competitive arena than she’s visited before.
Race 4 No14 WALL GAME (Each Way)
Trainer: Henry Candy – Jockey: Dane O’Neill
Candy suffered a poor 2022 but is quickly putting that rare reverse behind him. The veteran handler will see his own colours carried by WALL GAME in this seven furlongs handicap, and the gelding looks an attractive proposition off bottom weight. He put in a solid earning run on return to action at Wolverhampton, and with only three races under his belt holds scope for more progression than most of his foes.
Race 6 No1 SUMO SAM
Trainer: Paul Cole – Jockey: Richard Kingscote
SUMO SAM takes a big class drop after finishing second in the Pretty Polly Stakes at this track. Racing under a penalty for her debut win last year, she should take the spoils on the way to better things.
DONCASTER
Race 6 No3 HARRY MAGNUS (Nap)
Trainer: Charlie Hills – Jockey: Rab Havlin
HARRY MAGNUS gained a fuel injection when breaking his duck on Polytrack as he looked even better when switching to turf and following-up at the Newmarket Craven fixture. The Harry Angel colt has delighted his connections subsequently, and is strongly fancied to complete a fine hat-trick.
Race 7 No1 GOLDEN MAVERICK
Trainer: Ian Williams – Jockey: PJ McDonald
A pea out of the same pod is GOLDEN MAVERICK. He’s landed a couple of minor gambles and defied a penalty in ready fashion at Southwell. Back on turf he can also make it a three-timer.
