Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Thursday’s racing coming your way from Lingfield Park, Ripon, Yarmouth, Market Rasen and Carlisle on 1 June 2023.
lINGFIELD PARK
Race 6 No2 MR FREEDOM (Nap)
Trainer: Sheena West – Jockey: Trevor Whelan
West has a penchant for getting the best out of the horses she sources from the Channon stable, and can hit the target with two of them today. MR FREEDOM more than paid his way over hurdles and was a winner when last seen on the Flat, scoring here in January. He will be hard to beat after running a cracker on his latest start in a competitive handicap hurdle at Ascot.
Race 7 No6 CHERRY COLA
Trainer: Sheena West – Jockey: Rose Dawes
Dawes excelled on CHERRY COLA at Yarmouth where the combination were in total charge in the final furlong. It’s no surprise to see the mare brought out quickly and having taken those exertions in her stride she can follow up in another turf race on this mixed card.
RIPON
Race 2 No5 SIDNEY’S SON
Trainer: Nigel Tinkler – Jockey: Faye McManoman
Tinker is enjoying a bountiful run with his team, of whom SIDNEY’S SON can put his best foot forward in the maiden. The Dandy Man gelding left previous form well behind in both visits to Newcastle and gave Concert Boy plenty to think about under this rider last time. The selection needs to transfer that level of form to turf in order to open his account.
Race 7 No3 ROUND THE ISLAND (Each Way)
Trainer: Simon Whitaker – Jockey: Phil Dennis
Pontefract specialist ROUND THE ISLAND is not a one-trick pony, and is perfectly capable of successfully plying his trade at other courses as he showed when scoring at Catterick last season. He’s a dual scorer and is yet to finish out of the money in his visits to this garden course, and after a recent readying run is ready to deliver.
YARMOUTH
Race 5 No3 UNITED FRONT
Trainer: Mike Appleby – Jockey: William Buick
Buick takes the eye aboard UNITED FRONT, who though an infrequent runner on grass has the ability to see off these foes. The six-year-old earned in two of his three starts at the Dubai Carnival, and was not at his best when underwhelming at Newcastle since when he’s been freshened up.
MARKET RASEN
Race 3 No1 DOUBLE CLICK (Nap)
Trainer: Jamie Snowden – Jockey: Gavin Sheehan
DOUBLE CLICK has his tail up after successes at Wincanton and Ffos Las that show how much he’s improved for a move into the Snowden stable. He’s formed a strong alliance with Sheehan and is in pole position to complete a fine hat- trick.
Race 4 No9 MIDNIGHT GINGER
Trainer: Andrew Martin – Jockey: J Martin
MIDNIGHT GINGER is a bet I’m looking forward to in this handicap hurdle as the mare looks like she’s ready to win. Her recent runs at Warwick and Uttoxeter paint the picture of a horse on the cusp of a move into the winner’s circle, and as this is a competitive heat she should start at a rewarding price.
Race 6 No3 VICTORY ECHO
Trainer: Maurice Barnes – Jockey: Conor Rabbitt
VICTORY ECHO has benefitted from the handling of his capable conditional rider Rabbitt and has a chance to make this a third chase success from his last five outings. He got the job done in a professional manner at Perth two weeks ago, and should prove just as effective on this track.
CARLISLE
Race 3 No2 OBAMA ARMY (Nap)
Trainer: Jack Channon Jockey: Connor Beasley
OBAMA ARMY did himself a favour when inching home at Bath at the end of a daring run up the rail. It was a deserved first career success for the US Navy Flag gelding who should have won on an earlier visit to Nottingham. With top northern pilot Beasley in the hot seat he should prove hard to beat.
