Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing coming your way from York , Newcastle , Chester , Windsor , Lingfield Park and Doncaster on 28 June 2025.
YORK
Race 1 No9 ARCHIVIST (Nap)
Trainer: William Haggas – Jockey: Tom Marquand
After a string of near misses ARCHIVIST converted on his first start for Haggas. He switches to handicaps buoyed by that overdue first career success, and by following-up can boost his trainer’s fine record on the Knavesmire.
Race 2 AL BASTI EQUIWORLD DUBAI CRITERION STAKES (Group 3)
No8 FORMAL
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
Although there’s not much of her, FORMAL makes up for it with natural speed that was evident in her success in Listed company last time. She is trying to take down a hot favourite in the 2023 Gimcrack winner Lake Forest who has also won in Australia, but the vibes from Kingsclere are that she’s very much on the improve.
Race 4 No3 CREST OF FIRE
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Callum Rodriguez
CREST OF FIRE showed up well for a long way on his Newbury introduction in a largely educational run. A very striking individual, he’s progressed in a big way in the ensuing period and can prove a danger to all with a top northern jockey doing the steering.
NEWCASTLE
Race 2 JENNINGS BET CHIPCHASE STAKES (Group 3)
No7 FERROUS (Nap)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Connor Beasley
With is three straight successes FERROUS moves into Pattern race company for the first time. He’s clashing with talented foes such as Kind Of Blue and Alyanaabi, but has winning form over the course and distance and almost certainly hasn’t stopped improving.
Race 4 No11 ZANNDABAD (Each Way)
Trainer: Tony Martin – Jockey: Jim Crowley
Martin is a master at plundering the big staying handicaps and usually takes a decent chunk out of the betting ring when he does so. In the so-called Pitman’s Derby he can strike a blow with ZANNDABAD who for all the world looks to have been laid out for the contest. The grey has very few miles on his racing clock and will be all the better for an eye taking comeback outing at the Curragh which has made him cherry ripe. One to include in all permutations at a huge price is ASGARD’S CAPTAIN, who was backed but got going only when the birds had flown at Epsom.
CHESTER
Race 2 No2 MISTER WINSTON (Nap)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Jason Watson
MISTER WINSTON has grazed the woodwork on his last two starts and rates the best bet on the card on his first visit to the Roodee. The presence of Circios makes the son of Churchill a punt able proposition, and he can add to his trainer’s fine record at the track.
Race 3 No10 COUNT D’ORSAY (Each Way)
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: Sean Kirrane
COUNT D’ORSAY ran better than his finishing position indicates over course and distance a fortnight ago and looks like a horse getting ready to win. The veteran has a perfect draw one off the rail and after three 2025 starts can make the podium at a double figure price.
WINDSOR
Race 2 No5 STARLIGHT SAMI (Nap)
Trainer: Denis Coakley – Jockey: Cieren Fallon
STARLIGHT SAMI attracted support on his first start at Salisbury and would have finished closer to the winner had he enjoyed a clear passage. That experience has done the Earthlight colt the world of good both physically and mentally.
Race 4 No9 WISPER
Trainer: Alan King – Jockey: Rossa Ryan
WISPER has a valid chance of making this a first win in two years and is getting weight from everything else following an earning run at Chelmsford that suggests there is still a tune to be played from her. Her prospects are boosted by the presence of Rossa Ryan in her saddle.
LINGFIELD PARK
Race 2 No3 VOIX DE BOCELLI (Nap)
Trainer: Henrietta Knight – Jockey: David Egan
Dual purpose horse VOIX DE BOCELLI has been a big contributor to Knight’s bountiful summer with her small team for the Flat. He’s shown a penchant for Brighton and should find this similarly undulating track just his cup of tea.
Race 5 No4 CATCH CUNNINGHAM (Each Way)
Trainer: Michael Herrington – Jockey: Dylan Hogan
At a big price CATCH CUNNINGHAM can get into the shake-up, and possibly end a lengthy losing sequence for a trainer that knows the time of day. The five times 1000 metres scorer ran well to a point on his latest start at Thirsk and to small stakes could be worth chancing.
DONCASTER
Race 2 No4 WICKET KEEPER (Nap)
Trainer: Ed Bethell – Jockey: Kevin Stott
Shavkat made a telling impression on debut at Lingfield but might be vulnerable to another recent scorer in WICKET KEEPER. The Nap is operating on a totally different track from his Catterick win but the long home straight will play to his strengths.
Race 5 No12 ALFA WHITEBURD
Trainer: Ivan Furtado – Jockey: Joey Haynes
With his second in a big field on seasonal reappearance at York ALFA WHITEBURD signalled that he’s a fairly treated entity. His four successes happened over 1200 metres, but the gelding can show that as he gets older seven furlongs is just as suitable.
Race 7 No7 OBITO
Trainer: David O’Meara – Jockey: D Nolan
OBITO upped his game with a come from behind success at Hamilton where the penny dropped for him in a big way. He‘s a relatively unexposed horse, and it would be no shock to see him follow-up.
