Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Friday’s racing coming your way from Newmarket , Goodwood , Thirsk , Uttoxeter and Doncaster on 3 May 2025.
NEWMARKET
Race 1 No6 UNEQUAL LOVE
Trainer: William Haggas- Jockey: Tom Marquand
History can repeat itself I this Guineas day opener with UNEQUAL LOVE repeating her 2024 success. She went on to land the Wokingham and f ish third in the Group 1 Haydock Sprint Cup, making her a very promising candidate for the big 1200 metres sprints this season.
Race 3 No8 FOX LEGACY
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
FOX LEGACY is in a tough heat for his first run out of Park House Stables but is a horse with untapped potential who should do well this year. He enjoyed a select final campaign in Newmarket, when unable to cope with a chunky rise in the weights following a 12 lengths success at Salisbury. Now in new surroundings he can stave off the challenges of Hand Of God, Arabian Light and METALLO.
Race 4 HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB WORLD POOL PALACE HOUSE STAKES (Group 3)
No11 TROPICAL STORM
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
This doesn’t look the hottest renewal of this historic sprint and TROPICAL STORM can cash in. He’s the one horse in the field possessing scope for progression after ending last season with a Listed race triumph at York. Three-year-olds can struggle in the sprint division but he’s been working well, and can prove one of the exceptions.
Race 5 BETFRED 2000 GUINEAS STAKES (Group 1)
No3 FIELD OF GOLD (Nap)
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: Kieran Shoemark
Gosden’s 2000 Guineas hoodoo is surely about to end if FIELD OF GOLD confirms the promise of his clear cut Craven Stakes success. The grey will be covering the identical terrain that saw him storm clear up the hill, and having delighted his trainer subsequently he can repel the twin Godolphin challenge of SHADOW OF LIGHT and RULING COURT. Shadow Of Light took out the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes and Dewhurst amongst his four juvenile successes but William Buick has elected to side with Ruling Court, who has subsequently attracted strong support. The latter was an impressive scorer at Meydan, and while this is a big jump in class he’s been working with aplomb. EXPANDED chased home Shadow Of Light in the Dewhurst, and as Aidan O’Brien’s only runner commands abundant respect. WIMBLEDON HAWKEYE is one that could outrun his lofty price.
Prediction: 1st FIELD OF GOLD, 2nd Ruling Court, 3rd Expanded, 4th Shadow Of Light
Longshot: Wimbledon Hawkeye
GOODWOOD
Race 3 No6 BELIEVITANDUCAN
Trainer: Alan King – Jockey: Rossa Ryan
Dual purpose horse BELIEVITANDUCAN scored on two of his first three starts for King before a gamble on him on the Kempton Polytrack came unstuck. His connections will be keen for him to put the record straight, and there’s every chance he will.
Race 5 No10 GALYX (Nap)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: David Probert
Connections of the promising GALYX will probably make a ground check before green lighting him to run. He showed a penchant for easy conditions last year, with his triumphs at Windsor and Leicester recorded in the soft. He’s never encountered ground this quick, but is a very promising prospect who should pay to follow.
Race 6 No3 LAST SHAMARDAL
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: George Bass
Dual AW winner LAST SHAMARDAL is unexposed on grass, having chased home Criminal Shote on his only start on turf at Ripon. He swerved an opportunity last week, but looks to have been found a similarly attractive task in which to regain the winning thread.
THIRSK
Race 3 No1 NORTHERN EXPRESS (Each Way)
Trainer: Michael Dods – Jockey: Paul Mulrennan
NORTHERN EXPRESS proved easy to back and needed his comeback in a conditions race at Thirsk. Last year’s International Stakes winner was beaten just over six lengths by Paborus but was keeping on well at the finish. He usually needs a race to put the edge on him, and now back in a handicap can do better.
Race 5 No4 TOBY TOPPS
Trainer: Dylan Cunha – Jockey: Kevin Stott
TOBY TOPPS has looked an improved sprinter with his successes at Southwell and Nottingham and can take this step up the class ladder in his stride to complete a hat-trick for a South African trainer who has made a bright start to the campaign.
Race 6 No5 KING’S MERCHANT (Nap)
Trainer: Ed Bethell – Jockey: Callum Rodriguez
One that should prove worth waiting for is KING’S MERCHANT. He was a progressive three-year-old when notching three successes on grass and one on sand, including over today’s course and distance in September. His trainer delivered with a similar individual on Thursday, and the Nap should be all the better for his needed comeback run at Wolverhampton.
UTTOXETER
Race 1 No2 BONGO MAN (Each Way)
Trainer: Billy Aprahamian – Jockey: Gavin Sheehan
BONGO MAN is carded to go off a double figure price for this maiden hurdle, and if so is worth win and place support. He faced an impossible task on a first run over hurdles against Whatsyourproblem at Huntingdon but remained in front until the penultimate flight. If proving more settled today he can earn.
Race 4 No9 COCO MADEMOISELLE (Nap)
Trainer: Dan Skelton – Jockey: Harry Skelton
This is a strongly contested three mile handicap chase, and while Guard Your Dreams, Slipway and Nocte Volatus all take the eye there’s no doubt COCO MEDEMOISELLE looks a well weighted mare. She has few miles on her racing clock as a chaser, and when scoring at Perth landed some good bets in style. If turning up in similar form she will be hard to beat.
DONCASTER
Race 2 No1 ARCHIVIST (Nap)
Trainer: William Haggas – Jockey: Cieren Fallon
A remnant of Sir Michael Stoute’s final string, ARCHIVIST can put his experience to good use to open his account. His second to Secret Theory at Nottingham saw him do his best work at the finish, suggesting the longer trip today should play to his strengths.
