Neil Morrice shares all his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing, coming your way from Sandown Park , Chester , Beverley , Newton Abbot , Lingfield Park and Chelmsford on 30 August 2025.
SANDOWN PARK
Race 1 No15 WOROODD (Nap)
Trainer: Ed Walker – Jockey: Kieran Shoemark
WOROODD starts life in handicaps after justifying strong support to score at Thirsk and Haydock. The Dark Angel filly is not only the least exposed runner in the field, but gets weight from all but one of her opponents from a plum draw two off the fence. She could have plenty more to offer.
Race 2 BET MGM ATALANTA STAKES (Group 3)
No10 BLUE BOLT
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Colin Keane
The first of two Pattern races can see BLUE BOLT graduating from Listed success at this course to taking out a Group 3. The Blue Point filly overcame a tendency to race freely by pulling out extra up the final hill of last month’s Coral Distaff to score going away, and with that experience under her belt has a good chance to extend her winning sequence to four, which she can achieve at the man expense of ALOBAYYAH.
Race 3 No7 SADDADD
Trainer: Roger Varian – Jockey: Ray Dawson
SADDADD has already proved popular in the market for this second run in a handicap and no surprise granted how he toughed it out to land the London Gold Cup at Newbury back in May. He’s benefitted from a freshening break, and shapes like a Listed or Group class horse masquerading as a handicapper.
Race 4 BET MGM SOLARIO STAKES (Group 3)
No6 PACIFIC AVENUE
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: William Buick
The top class Field Of Gold won this 12 months ago and while it’s doubtful there’s another of his ilk in the field it looks a strong renewal. PACIFIC AVENUE represents a stable that has won three of the last eight runnings and he downed a more experienced barnmate on his Newmarket introduction to suggest he’s in Godolphin’s top echelon of juveniles. He has scope for the progression required to parry the challenges of PUBLISH and HUMIDITY in what is the best race to watch on the card.
CHESTER
Race 2 No1 ALKASIB
Trainer: Andrew Baldng – Jockey: PJ McDonald
ALKASIB has won here and run well on his only other visit. While underwhelming in his two outings in a select 2025 campaign he’s fresher than his opponents and retains a touch of class that can see him home for a trainer with a great Roodee record.
Race 6 No16 ARABIAN COBRA (Each Way)
Trainer: Hugo Palmer – Jockey: Callum Shepherd
ARABIAN COBRA was a course and distance scorer back in June and made the step up into a Class3 with a podium finish back here at the end of last month. The grey has a good draw from which to get competitive and can add to his record of never being out of the frame in five races this season.
Race 7 No2 PERCY SHELLEY (Nap)
Trainer: James Owen – Jockey: Warren Fentiman
Although he makes a habit of finding one to beat him, this can be PERCY SHELLEY’s day. When chasing home Arqoob at Newmarket last time he let the winner get first run on him, while it was a fourth runner-up placing for the six-year-old in succession. For a horse that can lie handy and looks to lead as late as possible Chester looks an ideal track.
BEVERLEY
Race 2 No3 REGIONAL (Nap)
Trainer: Ed Bethell – Jockey: Callum Rodriguez
Although he’s getting longer in the tooth there’s no sign of regression from the classy REGIONAL. The Group 1 winner is back in Listed company for the first time in two years with blinkers added for the first time, and should make no mistake in this prestigious race known as the ‘Bullet’.
Race 5 No4 MELVIN UDALL
Trainer: Ed Walker – Jockey: Paul Mulrennan
MELVIN UDALL has his first outing out of Kingsdown Stables in Lambourn after taking away a minor cheque on his only start for his previous trainer at the Curragh. In a field of 18 it was a very promising effort, and makes him the one to beat in a race that’s cut up favourably for him.
NEWTON ABBOT
Race 2 No1 HOWTH (Nap)
Trainer: Tom Lacey – Jockey: Sean Bowen
HOWTH impressively won a handicap by a double figure margin here last time to make it three successes from four outings under Rules. He’s burdened with a double penalty now back against novices, but should take care of business.
Race 4 No3 JUGGERNAUT
Trainer: Anthony Honeyball – Jockey: Chad Bament
JUGGERNAUT has few miles on his racing clock and probably needed his comeback outing here won by Feel The Pinch. On on revised terms he can turn the tables on that opponent.
LINGFIELD PARK
Race 6 No4 PLAYTIME (Nap)
Trainer: Andrew Baldng – Jockey: Jason Watson
PLAYTIME returned from an enforced absence to finish just out of the money at Yarmouth which should have done him the power of good. His trainer wouldn’t persevere with a horse of this ilk unless he thought he could win races with it, and on a very poor card he’s the most interesting runner.
CHELMSFORD CITY
Race 6 No8 GRAND HARBOUR (Nap)
Trainer: Sir Mark Prescott – Jockey: Luke Morris
It’s proved a fruitless season so far for GRAND HARBOUR but in a weak affair and getting weight from the field in first time blinkers the Haafhd gelding is worth one more chance.
