Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Thursday ’s racing coming your way from Leicester, Chepstow , Hamilton Park , Epsom Downs and Worcester on 17 July 2025.
LEICESTER
Race 4 No12 SUGAR KANE (Nap)
Trainer: Daniel Kubler – Jockey: Tom Marquand
This classified race looks just the ticket for SUGAR KANE, who upped her game on a second outing on grass to take away a minor cheque at Brighton. She remains unexposed, and is the one horse in the field who might make a jump forward.
Race 6 No1 KEEP TALKING (Each Way)
Trainer: Stan Moore – Jockey: Finley Marsh
KEEP TALKING is a speculative suggestion for the first division of a poor race. The Mohaather filly hasn’t shown much in three educational starts but 1400 metres on grass could see some improvement, especially if it rains ahead of this first handicap assignment in the colours of dual Irish Grand National winner Brown Lad.
CHEPSTOW
Race3 No7 POLYGRAM (Nap)
Trainer: Harry Charlton – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
POLYGRAM has cost her supporters dear with defeats on the Newcastle Tapeta and Lingfield turf courses, but the Dark Angel filly looks to have only Seren Star to beat as she stretches out to a mile, and with the champion jockey aboard can achieve it.
Race 6 No8 COTSWOLD COTTAGE
Trainer: Faye BRAMLEY – Jockey: Nicola Currie
COTWOLD COTTAGE has changed stables since scoring at Windsor last autumn but on just a fifth career start remains of interest as she’s competing in the same ownership with Currie returned to her saddle from the foot of the weights.
HAMILTON PARK
Race 2 No8 SIXCOR ( Each Way)
Trainer: Linda Perrett – Jockey: David Allan
SIXCOR has been a captain of industry and embarks on his third outing within the space of five days, but he’s a sprinter that’s knocking on the door, and at his forecast price looks one to take a chance on.
Race 3 No5 BRIELLE ( Nap)
Trainer: David O’Meara – Jockey: Danny Tudhope
BRIELLE met with early interference and might have been unlucky not to prevail when stepping up in trip at Thirsk. The first two home pulled clear, suggesting that she will be hard to beat if dealing with the step back to a mile.
Race 6 No3 RAIN CAP (Each Way)
Trainer: John Riches – Jockey: Sean Kirrane
RAIN CAP hasn’t won for exactly two years but the signs from all but one of his five outings on turf this year are that he can soon stem the tide. He finished best of all to claim a minor cheque in a big field at Thirsk at the start of the month, suggesting he is on the cusp of an overdue breakthrough.
EPSOM DOWNS
Race 4 No8 PRIDE OF NEPAL (Nap)
Trainer: Tony Carroll – Jockey: Miss S L Bowen
PRIDE OF NEPAL has been in the grip of the assessor since posting back-to-back successes at Brighton and Newmarket last summer. However, he signalled with a near miss at Pontefract last time that he’s getting ready to win again, and makes plenty of appeal in receipt of a handy weight concession from his opponents.
Race 6 No4 APPLE OF MY EYE (Each Way)
Trainer: Pat Phelan – Jockey: Rhys Clutterbuck
Local stables are well represented in the nightcap in which APPLE OF MY EYE is one to consider on a jump up the distance ladder. The Expert Eye filly has started 150-1, 66-1 and then 9-2 for her three career starts and interestingly raised her game to claim a minor cheque at Lingfield. She’s completely unexposed, and is the one horse in the field capable of finding abnormal improvement now in a handicap.
WORCESTER
Race 5 No6 BETTY’S TIARA (Nap)
Trainer: Ben Pauling – Jockey: Ben Jones
BETTY’S TIARA stretches out to a longer trip in a mission that can see the mare finally get off the mark. She’s performed well in better company than this, and lost no caste in defeat when running into one at this track last time. The cheek pieces that were added that day are retained.
Race 6 No7 HAMMER DAN
Trainer: David Pipe – Jockey: Jack Tudor
HAMMER DAN brings strong credentials to the table courtesy of his two successes from as many start at this time last year, and back-to-back near misses this season including when beaten by a progressive opponent at this course at the start of the month. This lightly raced individual rates a worthy favourite in the best betting race of the night.
