Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing coming your way from Goodwood, Chester, Haydock, York and Salisbury on 27 May 2023.
GOODWOOD
Race 6 No4 SINGLE (Each Way)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Rose Dawes
The best bets on this card happen at the end of it, and should prove well worth waiting for. SINGLE is one to take seriously at a course she enjoys, buoyed by an encouraging first run back when just out of the money in a race that was at least as good as this at Newmarket. Weak in the market, the mare kept on well and can cope with this shorter trip against a rejuvenated Crystal Estrella.
Race 7 No4 FERROUS (Nap)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: James Doyle
FERROUS hasn’t enjoyed the rub of the green in three starts this year but could well have the bases covered in the nightcap. The son of Dark Angel represents a Newmarket race that has worked out particularly well, and now pulled back to five furlongs can show his true worth, with Doyle an eye-taking booking for him.
CHESTER
Race 4 No3 BOARDMAN (Each Way)
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: Phil Dennis
BOARDMAN has been quietly finding his feet and should now be cherry ripe to deliver in the race he won 12 months ago. The seven-year-old ran well when just out of the money over this track and trip at the big meeting two weeks ago, and if blessed with racing room in the closing stages should stage a repeat.
Race 7 No4 GREYSTOKE (Nap)
Trainer: Alan King – Jockey: Benoit De La Sayette
I doubt that the assessor can have done enough in raising him to prevent GREYSTOKE following up his impressive triumph here two weeks ago. Admittedly the going was softer than he will encounter today, but the way the Nap travelled and quickened was a joy to behold, and it will take a brave man to oppose him.
HAYDOCK
Race 3 No6 METAL MERCHANT (Each Way)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Ronan Whelan
METAL MERCHANT put in a solid earning run in the Newmarket race won by Saxon King to be beaten just over two lengths. On reflection he might have made his move earlier than was ideal, and consequently will have his challenge delayed today. The Make Believe colt has been in very good form at home, and if offered up at a double-figure price should prove a profitable investment even if he doesn’t win.
Race 4 Betfred Nifty Fifty Sandy Lane Stakes (Group 2)
No4 LITTLE BIG BEAR (Nap)
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien – Jockey: Frankie Dettori
Part of the Dettori final season tour is seeing him team up with the major international stables, and his liaison with Aidan O’Brien’s LITTLE BIG BEAR will put numbers on the gate. The son of No Nay Never comes out clear of his rivals on the book and should be forgiven his underwhelming effort in the 2,000 Guineas from which he pulled up lame. One of the top juveniles of 2022, he can take out this Group 2 en route to a shot at the Commonwealth Cup.
Race 5 Betfred Temple Stakes (Group 2)
No 9 TWILIGHT CALLS
Trainer: Henry Candy – Jockey: Connor Beasley
Although he looked out of his comfort zone in the Palace House Stakes last month, TWILIGHT CALLS is confidently expected to leave that disappointing effort behind for a race he was unluckily foiled in last year. The gelding should get the strong pace that assists his late delivery, and can raise his game against three-year-olds The Platinum Queen and Dramatised to earn a crack at the Platinum Jubilee (in which he chased home Australian ace Nature Strip last year).
YORK
Race 6 No4 SAXON KING (Nap)
Trainer: Charlie Hills – Jockey: Jim Crowley
SAXON KING is an upwardly mobile performer who will go to post with a great chance of completing a hat-trick. The Zoustar colt opened his account at Haydock last autumn and looked even better when taking out a Class 3 on his reappearance at Newmarket. He’s in the form of his life for this clash with Sceptic.
Race 7 No11 YORKSHIRE (Each Way)
Trainer: Ed Bethell – Jockey: Andrea Atzeni
From the foot of the weights there’s much to like about the claims of YORKSHIRE, the only three-year-old in the contest. The Harry Angel colt foiled Ferrous in a tight finish at Southwell before being short-headed by Mustajaab at the same course when he did nothing wrong. The fact that his trainer pitches him in against good older horses is an indication of how highly he’s regarded.
SALISBURY
Race 1 No4 CALL GLORY (Each Way)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Charles Bishop
CALL GLORY shaped well to finish just out of the money on his Goodwood introduction. The son of Soldier’s Call should like all juveniles from this yard make a jump forward on this second start, and can take advantage of the 8lb he receives from the penalised Serried Ranks.
Race 2 No10 CLUEDO (Nap)
Trainer: Henry Candy – Jockey: Trevor Whelan
CLUEDO hacked up at Bath last week when afforded the Nap vote in this column, and now moves up the class band to compete off her revised mark. The Kodiac filly hails from a stable that excels with sprinters, and granted her speedy progression can strike while the iron’s hot as the best bet of the night.
Race 3 No1 BE FRANK (Each Way)
Trainer: Henry Candy – Jockey: Trevor Whelan
This will earn BE FRANK a mark which will constrain the level of my investment on him, but the Cable Bay gelding ran well enough in his two outings as a juvenile to suggest he can trouble the judge on this return to the fray, where he looks sure to go off at a double-figure price.
Race 4 No6 RUN TO FREEDOM
Trainer: Henry Candy – Jockey: Trevor Whelan
RUN TO FREEDOM ran the race of his life when second in the Group 1 Ascot Sprint and was not 100 per cent primed when fourth of four on return to action in a conditions race at Haydock. Beaten five lengths by the ill-fated Creative Force, he can with a win in this Listed contest play his part in a big weekend for his trainer.
