Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing coming your way from Sandown Park , Leicester ,Haydock Park , Beverley and Nottingham on 5 July 2025.
SANDOWN PARK
Race 1 CORAL CHARGE (Group 3)
No10 QUEEN ALL STAR (Each Way)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: William Buick
QUEEN ALL STAR takes a jump up the class ladder after showing an affinity for this course on her latest start. Her connections considered a race at Royal Ascot, but in waiting for this might have made the right move as she’s been flying at home and looks over priced in the betting market.
Race 3 No2 BLUE BOLT
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Colin Keane
BLUE BOLT impressed in a Newbury novice last time, sufficiently so to suggest she can outpoint her stablemate Bermuda Longtailmin this Listed prize. The daughter of Blue Point is the least experienced in the field, but is in great form and it shouldn’t prevent her landing a fine hat-trick.
Race 4 CORAL-ECLIPSE (Group 1)
No1 OMBUDSMAN (Nap)
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: William Buick
Usurped Derby favourite DELACROIX seeks to bounce back from an underwhelming run at Epsom with Ryan Moore in the plate but the older horses can hold sway in this mid summer spectacular with OMBUDSMAN preferred to French raider SOSIE. The latter has looked the part in his two successes from as many outings in France this year and is the winner of three races at Group 1 level. Furthermore, it’s many years since his trainer Andre Fabre has saddled a runner in the Eclipse. Much that i’m tempted by Maxime Guyon’s mount OMBUDSMAN ranks a worthy favourite following his resounding triumph in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Ascot when he overcame trouble in running to score going away. That was only the sixth race of his career, and he will be very hard to beat with further progression almost guaranteed. Godolphin’s second runner RULING COURT is the 2000 Guineas winner who will enjoy this step up to a mile and a quarter and can claim a minor cheque.
Prediction: 1st OMBUDSMAN, 2nd Sosie, 3rd Ruling Court
Race 5 No5 DANCE IN THE STORM
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
Balding has a plethora of chances on a day that has something for everyone. He can find amongst his winners DANCE IN THE STORM, who put in a career best on turf debut over this course and distance last time, and who with a hood retained can defy a 7lb rise in the eights in the populist colours of Jeff Smith.
LEICESTER
Race 4 No8 GUNDOGAN
Trainer: Ross Burton – Jockey: Jack Doughty
Having gradually improved in his five races this season, GUNDOGAN looks like a horse that is ready to win. He came close at Chelmsford on his third start for Burton and should find the little extra required now returned to turf.
Race 6 No2 SWEET SONATA (Nap)
Trainer: Rod Millman – Jockey: George Wood
SWEET SONATA displayed good all round speed to get the job done at Goodwood and from her revised mark can consolidate in this fillies’ handicap. Her trainer is very good with this type of individual.
HAYDOCK PARK
Race 4 No5 PLAGE DE HAVRE (Nap)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: PJ McDonald
The historic Old Newton Cup looks just the ticket for PLAGE DE HAVRE whose stable has bagged a number of valuable handicaps this season, and should always be feared with its visitors to this track. The selection was having just a second outing on grass when third in a competitive Class2 at the York May meeting since when his radar has been concentrated on this valuable prize.
Race 5 No8 TIRIAC (Each Way)
Trainer: Paul Midgley – Jockey: Barry McHugh
Cut in the ground would assist TIRIAC who would be a topical winner in Wimbledon week. The five-year-old showed a lot more on his second outing for Midgley when just out of the money at York and is undoubtedly well treated if able to recapture his old form.
Race 6 No2 NORTHERN EXPRESS (Each Way)
Trainer: Michael Dods – Jockey: Paul Mulrennan
It might appear that I’m prepared to follow NORTHERN EXPRESS off a cliff, but those who desert him now may end up with egg on their faces as the next few weeks could offer up the bounty he’s promised. He certainly raised his game when seventh at Royal Ascot two weeks ago, and is now in a race where there are less obstacles to victory. He should right in the thick of the action, and can win.
Race 7 No1 POINT OF CONTACT
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: PJ McDonald
Park House Stables has another good winning chance with POINT OF CONTACT, a colt who on only a fourth career start surely has more to offer. He landed some good bets on his Newbury reappearance before putting in a solid run in defeat against Bowmark at York. The winner let the form down in the French Derby but now in a handicap my selection can win again.
BEVERLEY
Race 5 No5 MANILLA THRILLER (Nap)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: David Egan
Things have not entirely gone to plan for MANILLA THRILLER since she scored on her return to action at Nottingham. Reliability is certainly not her watchword, but she ran well to trouble the judge at Salisbury last week, and having not been beaten far in a Listed race on her previous outing is dangerous to rule out.
NOTTINGHAM
Race 3 No5 REGALLY BLONDE (Nap)
Trainer: Ben a case – Jockey: Edward Greatrex
Dual purpose mare REGALLY BLONDE figures to benefit from this move up to a mile and three quarters following her good run over shorter last time. Her mark has tumbled since she switched back to the Flat from hurdling, and in a poor race she can prevail.
Race 7 No7 SAN FRANCISCO BAY (Each Way)
Trainer: Henry Candy – Jockey: Rab Havlin
SAN FRANCISCO BAY was doing his best work at the finish of his latest outing to suggest a move up to an extended mile and a quarter might well suit him. Though throughly exposed, it would be no surprise to see him get into the shake-up.
