Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing coming your way from Doncaster, Newbury , Cheltenham and Wolverhampton on 25 October 2025.
DONCASTER
Race 2 WILLIAM HILL FUTURITY TROPHY (Group 1)
No3 HAWK MOUNTAIN
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien – Jockey: Ronan Whelan
O’Brien regularly points his Derby prospects at this end of year highlight and HAWK MOUNTAIN can give the master of Ballydoyle a twelfth victory in the contest. The son of Wootton Bassett impressively landed the Beresford Stakes on his latest of three outings, and that race has been a regular port of call for Coolmore winners of this prior to their trip to the Town Moor. He’s favoured in the market by stablemate BENVENUTO CELLINI who nevertheless rates the main threat under Christophe Soumillon while the unbeaten ITEM is a Frankel colt for whom there could easily be overnight support.
Race 3 No6 LAM YAI (Nap)
Trainer: Karl Burke – Jockey: Shane Gray
There was plenty of on course support for LAM YAI before she was inched out of a Group 3 at the Ayr Western meeting. The Lucky Vega filly is at her best on the testing conditions she will experience today, and by seeing off SPANISH WALTZ can show she’s the best bet on the card.
Race 6 No3 MAJESTIC (Each Way)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Rose Dawes
MAJESTIC landed a good prize at Bahrain at this time last year but was unable to add to that in four subsequent outings. The former Cambridgeshire winner is getting longer in the tooth and won’t be going to the Gulf next month, however he’s been going well at home, and can outrun his long odds with a new pilot on his saddle.
NEWBURY
Race 3 No6 SENORITA VEGA (Nap)
Trainer: Tom Dascombe – Jockey: Sean Levey
SENORITA VEGA is a bet I’m looking forward to, and should prove hard to beat in this Listed Radley Stakes. She has course and distance winning form to her name, and proved with a solid run in defeat in the Group 3 Oh So Sharp Stakes at Newmarket that she’s capable of mixing it with better class fillies. She will also be at home on the rain softened ground.
Race 5 BETVICTOR HORRIS HILL STAKES (Group 3)
No5 STELLAR SUNRISE
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: PJ McDonald
Although he will require further progression in order to win this, STELLAR SUNRISE has his tail up following a clear cut triumph in a York nursery. This similar track will play to his strengths, and at the respective prices he represents better value than the Godolphin-owned favourite who is on a recovery mission after a heavy defeat in a Group 1.
Race 6 BETVICTOR ST SIMON STAKES (Group 3)
No8 MISS WONG (Each Way)
Trainer: David Simcock – Jockey: Sean Levey
A couple of old adversaries lock horns in this race that remembers one of the greatest horses to grace the Turf. HAMISH and AL AASY like this track and the former is going to revel in the easy conditions. ANCIENT WISDOM looked on the way back when second at Goodwood and should enjoy stepping back up in trip but one that could cause problems for the trio is MISS WONG. She didn’t appear to enjoy the rub of the green when beaten at Newmarket last time and has the necessary progression to get into the argument at a big double price in the colours of Kirsten Rausing.
Race 8 No8 SWEET REWARD (Each Way)
Trainer: Jonny Portman – Jockey: Olivia Tubb
Another long priced advice in the nightcap is SWEET REWARD. He’s been inconsistent this season but has consequently dropped to an attractive mark and might prove a value win and place proposition for his shrewd handler and the capable apprentice Tubb.
CHELTENHAM
Race 3 No10 ROCK MY WAY ( Nap)
Trainer: Joe Tizzard – Jockey: Brendan Powell
ROCK MY WAY finished second in the National Hunt Chase at the Festival back in March, and though beaten on a subsequent start has to be of interest returning after a breathing operation. The blinkered seven-year-old stays well and can make his presence felt. TRANSMISSION finished behind him in the same race but is coming back with stable confidence behind him to make him worth saving on. THE SHORT GO appeals as the best of the Irish contingent and can also earn.
Race 4 No10 MA SHANTOU
Trainer: Emma Lavelle – Jockey: Harry Cobden
MA SHANTOU hails from a stable on a hot streak as he starts on a campaign that could see him progress into a graded hurdler. He has the advantage of being unexposed, as he raced only five times last season and ended with a promising effort to finish seventh in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle. He can get into the shake-up in what could be a good result for the home contingent, with Olly Murphy’s LONG DRAW and Gordon Elliott’s SERMANDZARAK the ones that could give him most problems in a very open contest.
Race 6 No7 WELCOME TO CARTRIES
Trainer: Paul Nicholls – Jockey: Harry Cobden
Ireland have strong claims to lift this novices’ chase with five of the seven starters, but WELCOME TO CARTRIES is one that could spoil the party for them. The selection hasn’t quite made the slash at first hoped from him, but his hurdling ventures last season were rewarding, whilst the way he’s jumped in his schooling dictates the switch to fences is going to bring about improvement.
WOLVERHAMPTON
Race 1 No8 EMMA’S LETTER
Trainer: Ed Dunlop – Jockey: Daniel Muscutt
EMMA’S LETTER was a 400-1 shot when finding only one to beat her on her second start at Leicester, aided by the addition of blinkers. The headgear remains and the daughter of Saxon Warrior can prove it was no fluke by opening her account.
Race 5 No1 SAX APPEAL (Nap)
Trainer: Charlie Johnston – Jockey: Archie Young
SAX APPEAL to beat GOBLET OF FIRE is the way this race should pan out. The Nap has been in very good form with three successes this season taking his tally on the all-weather to seven. Though beaten over this two miles at Southwell last time he went down fighting, and has a good apprentice taking 5lb off his back.
