Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing coming your way from Ascot, York, Chester, Salisbury and Lingfield Park on 27 July 2024.
ASCOT
Race 1 No7 OUR TERMS
Trainer: Richard Hannon – Jockey: Ryan Moore
With the organisation’s high strike rate with first-time-out juveniles, the Godolphin contender Al Misbar has to be worth a market check, but such was the promise OUR TERMS displayed on his debut when fourth at Newmarket that I’d be happy to row in with him regardless. The son of Wootton Bassett will relish the stiff finish and has gone a long way forward subsequently.
Race 2 SOXEXO LIVE ! PRINCESS MARGARET STAKES (Group 3)
No8 SIMMERING (Nap)
Trainer: Ollie Sangster – Jockey: Ryan Moore
SIMMERING lived right up to the high billing afforded her when finishing second over course and distance in the Albany at the Royal meeting. This represents a drop in class in some ways, and the daughter of Too Darn Hot can open her account at the main expense of Newbury scorer Handcuffed.
Race 4 No8 METAL MERCHANT (Each Way)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: David Probert
A gamble in dropping METAL MERCHANT back to seven furlongs can pay off in this valuable race on the straight course. The four-year-old has consistently run well in the major mile handicaps this year, winning the Spring Cup at Newbury and more recently finishing seventh in the Royal Hunt Cup. He was compromised by being drawn in the far side group that day, and his pilot’s task will be to deliver him as late as possible, as he has a smart turn of foot but one that only last for a few yards. NORTHERN EXPRESS is a horse I like and looks a must-include after his good run at York. Interestingly he is drawn in stall 1. SUMMERGHAND has troubled the judge on his last two outings and despite increasing years can never be safely discounted, while FRESH ran well and dropped to this distance last time but has started to become expensive. ORAZIO is frequently backed, and after claiming third place behind Unequal Love in the Hunt Cup is one to take very seriously. He has a big pot in him for sure.
Prediction: 1st METAL MERCHANT, 2nd Orazio, 3rd Northern Express, 4th Summerghand, 5th Fresh
Race 5 KING GEORGE VI AND QUEEN ELIZABETH QIPCO STAKES (Group 1)
No7 REBEL’S ROMANCE
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: William Buick
Although this isn’t the strongest King George run in recent years the sponsors will be delighted that it features a showdown between the two biggest powers in racing, Coolmore and Godolphin. AUGUSTE RODIN will fly the flag for Aidan O’Brien in a bid to land a seventh Group 1 while fellow globetrotter REBEL’S ROMANCE seeks to extend his winning sequence to five for Charlie Appleby after a grinding success in a Hong Kong Group 1 back in May. Auguste Rodin put in a howler when last of ten in this race last year, but he looked right back on his game when winning the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes over a mile and a quarter here in June. Last year’s Betfred Derby winner dominates the Hollywoodbets market on the traditional mid-summer highlight but I feel is worth taking on. He finished last to REBEL’S ROMANCE in the 12-runner Sheema Classic at Meydan in March and the record shows he can put in the odd inexplicable poor run. That issue alone means there’s not a shred of value at 5-4, but if you take out the favourite Rebel’s Romance is the most likely to cash in. BLUESTOCKING proved a deserving winner of the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh to remain unbeaten in 2024, but her best form is with plenty of give underfoot. Coronation Cup winner LUXEMBOURG sealed that success under an enterprising ride, and as one of three in the race from Coolmore, it will be interesting to see if he elects to lie reasonably close to HANS ANDERSEN, who is surely turning up as a pacemaker. At longer odds, SUNWAY makes some appeal but better value may stem from Hardwicke Stakes’ third MIDDLE EARTH. John Gosden’s charge has been crying out for a strongly run Group 1 over a mile and a half.
Prediction: 1st REBEL’S ROMANCE, 2nd Auguste Rodin, 3rd Middle Earth, 4th Bluestocking
YORK
Race 2 No4 FERROUS (Each Way)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Connor Beasley
FERROUS blotted his copybook when down the field in the Wokingham in which the grey seemed to lose interest after being hampered. Previous efforts this season show the three-year-old to be an upwardly mobile sprinter, and having been freshened-up since Ascot he can bounce back in this Class 2 to claim a decent cheque.
Race 3 SKY BET YORK STAKES (Group 2)
No5 KING’S GAMBIT (Nap)
Trainer: Harry Charlton – Jockey: Callum Shepherd
KING’S GAMBIT came from well off the pace to finish best of all, but just too late, in the Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot. It was a promising effort, and what adds to the allure about him in this jump up in grade is that as a three-year-old he receives a handy allowance from each of his three foes. The best of them is PASSENGER, whose Huxley Stakes form at Chester has been well and truly franked. The Ulysses colt was a late defector from the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at the Royal meeting but worked well last week, and is almost as unexposed as the selection. ALFLAILA hasn’t been without his issues, but on the back of a pleasing comeback effort behind Auguste Rodin in that race needs respecting.
CHESTER
Race 1 No6 WILTSHIRE LAD
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Jason Watson
Few juveniles from Freemason Lodge win first time out, so it was no surprise to see WILTSHIRE LAD manage just a frame finish on his debut at Doncaster. That effort has served the colt well by bringing him on, and he can now open his account at the main expense of Seagolazo.
Race 7 No5 MORE THUNDER (Nap)
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Kevin Stott
In the same colours, MORE THUNDER can make it a good day for the Stoute stable. He was well ridden to prevail at Nottingham and was in a better race when third in a Newmarket novice last time. He looks the type to do well now switched to handicaps at a sharp track that should lend itself to his style of racing.
SALISBURY
Race 5 No3 CHOURMO (Nap)
Trainer: Mark Gillard – Jockey: John Egan
CHOURMO has shown an aptitude for racing on an undulating track and should feel right at home on these cambers. He’s been well placed to post a couple of successes this year and needs respecting as he steps back in trip in this low-grade handicap.
Race 6 No8 SELECTIVITY
Trainer: Marcus Tregoning – Jockey: Joey Haynes
If there’s a dark horse in the nightcap it is surely handicap debutant SELECTIVITY. The daughter of German Derby winner Sea The Moon hasn’t shown much to date, though all three of her starts have been part of a learning curve. Being out of a mare by Selkirk her connections may be hoping for a thunderstorm or two.
LINGFIELD PARK
Race 5 No3 MISS STORMY NIGHT (Nap)
Trainer: Clive Cox – Jockey: John Fahy
MISS STORMY NIGHT has her tail up after scoring here and following up under a 5lb penalty at Nottingham. She’s trying to parry a further 10lb rise in this hat-trick attempt but is in the mood to achieve it.
