Neil Morrice shares all his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing, coming your way from Newbury, AYR, Chester , Newmarket and Wolverhampton on 20 September 2025.
NEWBURY
Race 1 DUBAI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WORLD TROPHY STAKES (Group 3)
No11 QUEEN ALL STAR
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Finley Marsh
There isn’t much of QUEEN ALL STAR but after three wins from four starts this year this step into Pattern company can pay off with a podium finish. Her preferred trip is this 1000 metres, while Finley Marsh is an interesting booking for her. In an open contest RUMSTAR and MONTASSIB can also get into the shake-up.
Race 2 No2 MAJESTIC (Each Way)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Charles Bishop
MAJESTIC was a winner in Bahrain last November and could head back there, but more immediately the veteran can earn in this competitive Autumn Cup. The former Cambridgeshire winner is suited by longer distances these days, and after shaping well on return from a break at Goodwood should handle this step up in trip to trouble the judge at a price.
Race 4 DUBAI DUTY FREE MILL REEF STAKES (Group 2)
No8 WORDS OF TRUTH (Nap)
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: William Buick
INTO THE SKY was a wide margin scorer on debut here and could be anything, but a more likely winner is WORDS OF TRUTH, who is on a hat-trick for Godolphin. Since being gelded the Nap has made forcing tactics count at Ascot and Newmarket He holds WATCHA SNOOP on that latest running, and may find ROCK ON THUNDER a more potent threat.
Race 7 No12 LORD MONTAGUE (Each Way)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Finley Marsh
One that went especially well in his work on Thursday was LORD MONTAGUE. The Serge Prokofiev gelding comes here in favour of a trip to Lingfield next week and there’s a feeling he will fare better on grass. His only success happened on it at Brighton, while he appears fairly handicapped.
AYR
Race 1 No2 NORTHERN EXPRESS (Each Way)
Trainer: Michael Dods – Jockey: Paul Mulrennan
On a big day for his connections NORTHERN EXPRESS should give a good account. He put in a solid enough run when fifth in a similar contest at York to be beaten only two lengths. He has a peach of a draw and having been given a chance can make this an overdue first success of 2025.
Race 2 No3 CERTAIN LAD (Nap)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: George Bass
Drying ground would be a worry for CERTAIN LAD, but the veteran is in the form of his life going into this Doonside Cup and this is only his fourth run of the season. As long as there is the word ‘soft’ in the going description he should finish in the shake-up, with the unexposed ALMERIC his main barrier to victory.
Race 4 LADBROKES ‘GET REWARDED WITH LADBROKES’ FIRTH OF CLYD3 STAKES (Group 3)
No2 ARGENTINE TANGO (Each Way)
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: David Allan
Molecomb Stakes runner-up ARGENTINE TANGO can be forgiven her recent blip when it all went wrong for her at the start. Put a line through that and she brings strong form to the table, and there’s every chance she can bounce back to take away a cheque.
Race 5 LADBROKES AYR GOLD CUP HANDICAP
No4 NORTHERN TICKER (Each Way)
Trainer: Michael Dods – Jockey: Paul Mulrennan
Scotland’s most famous race on the Flat can fall to NORTHERN TICKER, who has the upwardly mobile profile you rarely see in a race contested by seasoned campaigners. The Mehmas gelding is penalised for his recent York triumph, but that was a career best and underlines how quickly he’s progressing. STRIKE RED has become well handicapped, making him one to have on your mind, while FLASH HARRY enjoys a similar profile to the selection and hails from a Lambourn stable that excels with its sprinters. PUROSANGE hasn’t cut the mustard so far this season but has come down in the ratings. He’s well worth a market check and could attract on course money.
Prediction: 1st NORTHERN TICKER, 2nd Flash Harry, 3rd Strike Red, 4th Purosange
Race 8 No3 LOOK BACK SMILING
Trainer: Gemma Tutty – Jockey: Joanna Mason
LOOK BACK SMILING has been struggling to win since a Doncaster success early last season but the key to him is the juice in the ground. He encounters that today, and with the right pilot on his back can show he’s become well handicapped.
CHESTER
Race 1 No2 CRAZEE ICON (Nap)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Callum Hutchinson
CRAZEE ICON showed a lot of natural speed before weakening at Lingfield after taking a walk in the market. It should be a different story now that she’s going down the handicap route, and for a stable with a great record here.
Race 4 No10 COUNT D’ORSAY (Each Way)
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: Sean Kirrane
Veteran COUNT D’ORSAY landed this from a 7lb higher mark last year. After running well from a poor draw here last week he’s ready to turn back the clock, and he looks to have a serious chance.
NEWMARKET
Race 1 No5 LOVING QUEEN
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: Rab Havlin
LOVING QUEEN was scratched from her intended introduction and has importantly been given more work subsequently. The daughter of Too Darn Hot should know enough to deliver at the first attempt in the colours of Philippa Cooper’s Normandie Stud.
Race 3 No6 DAPPER GUEST (Nap)
Trainer: George Margarson – Jockey: John Egan
DAPPER GUEST fairly bolted up on his first visit to an all weather surface at Southwell. He gained his only other success at this track and is in the mood to consolidate for a small yard that’s been among the winners.
Race 4 No8 GOLDEN REDEMPTION
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Jason Watson
GOLDEN REDEMPTION landed some good bets at Newbury and ran well in defeat when trying to follow-up at the same course. On reflection he may well be more in his comfort zone as a sprinter, making this drop back to 1200metres appear logical.
WOLVERHAMPTON
Race 5 No8 DARK SUN (Each Way)
Trainer: James Bennett – Jockey: Laura Coughlan
Bargain basement purchase DARK SUN has troubled the judge a few times without winning but this could be her night. She’s a well related individual who is favourably drawn, and can score as the only horse in her yard for a trainer who also runs a transport business.
Race 8 No2 JIMMY MARK (Nap)
Trainer: Stuart Kittow – Jockey: Hollie Doyle
JIMMY MARK a has played second fiddle on four of her last five outings and deserves a change of luck. He’s completely genuine with his chance boosted by the presence of Holli Doyle ahead of her departure to Hong Kong.
