Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Thursday’s racing coming your way from Newmarket, Cheltenham, Ripon and Chelmsford City on 18 April 2024.
NEWMARKET
Race 1 No14 CAJETAN (Each Way)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: David Probert
CAJETAN is a probable earner in this wickedly competitive three-year-old handicap that opens Day 3 of the Craven meeting. Although having to be pushed out to score on his seasonal reappearance at Newcastle, it’s interesting that he and the runner-up pulled a long way clear of their foes. On this beautiful ground, he can back up the promise of that success by staving off the challenges of BLUE PRINCE and PEN PORTRAIT, who are also likely to assist any exotic wagering on the contest.
Race 3 CONNAUGHT ACCESS FLOORING ABERNANT STAKES (Group 3)
No9 SHOULDVEBEENARING (Nap)
Trainer: Richard Hannon – Jockey: Sean Levey
The first major sprint of the season remembers perhaps the greatest sprinter ever, and it promises to be a cracker. COMMANCHE FALLS, RUN TO FREEDOM and SPYCATCHER will all go to my exotic perms on the race but the one to beat is SHOULDVEBEENARING. The four-year-old climaxed the 2023 campaign with a frame finish in the Prix de l’Abbaye and was certainly not knocked about when third to Nine Tenths in the Listed Lady Wulfruna Stakes at Wolverhampton. He was a winner at Listed level at the Guineas meeting here last season, likes the track and should prove hard to beat.
Race 4 BET365 CRAVEN STAKES (Group 3)
No1 ALCANTOR
Trainer: Andre Fabre – Jockey: Alexis Pouchin
Smooth Kempton scorer Native Approach will head the market for this recognised Guineas trial, and though respected should find the step up,in class making life tougher. He could find French challenger ALCANTOR a thorn in his side, especially in view of the good record Andre Fabre had with his runners at Headquarters. The New Bay colt is a winner of three of his five starts and when last seen in the autumn was only narrowly denied in the Group 1 Grand Criterium International de Saint-Cloud.
Race 5 No8 VICARIO
Trainer: Ed Walker – Jockey: Tom Marquand
Walker has made a strong start to the season, and in Lope De Vega filly VICARIOUS fields a serious contender for this fillies’ maiden. Having narrowly failed to deliver on her Chelmsford comeback the selection can endorse the promise of her only outing of turf, when second to Devoted Queen here last autumn. Her chance might be handed by the additional fitting of a tongue tie.
Race 7 No13 PEARLE D’OR (Each Way)
Trainer: David O’Meara – Jockey: Jamie Spencer
PEARLE D’OR either won or made the frame in his final five starts of 2023 and showed a particular liking for Ascot. He’s the type that could easily bag one of the marquee handicaps over seven furlongs, and I strongly fancy him to claim a cheque today.
CHELTENHAM
Race 2 No2 JUNIPER
Trainer: Anthony Honeyball – Jockey: Harry Cobden
JUNIPER has a good record when finishing her races, with the addition of champion jockey elect Cobden benefitting her in a couple of smooth recent victories. Though 7lb higher than when readily scoring at Wincanton last month, she’s a mare with her tail up, and if proving as effective on this undulating track can complete a fine hat-trick.
Race 5 No1 GOLDEN ACE (Nap)
Trainer: Jeremy Scott – Jockey: Lorcan Williams
GOLDEN ACE skipped a tougher assignment against males at Aintree last week and that move should prove rewarding. Her mares’ hurdle triumph at the Festival here has been boosted, and if in the same sort of form the pride of the West Country can give her foes short shrift and extend her winning sequence this season to four.
RIPON
Race 1 No6 POET’S DAWN (Each Way)
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: Archie Young
Easterby’s Great Habton stable could prove worth following on this first Ripon fixture of the new season. Veteran POET’S DAWN is one of the more consistent handicappers in the yard and has a good record at this track that reads 22/1443-2-0323. It suggests that if near fit for a first run after a protracted break, the chestnut can again earn.
Race 2 No5 FLICKERING HALO (Nap)
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: David Allan
Dark Angel colt FLICKERING HALO has some solid points on the board courtesy of his three earning efforts since joining Easterby from Joseph O’Brien. Easy to back at 33-1 and 10-1 for those visits to Southwell, he can show he’s just as effectively switched to grass over this slightly longer trip.
Race 5 No1 BAY BREEZE (Each Way)
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: David Allan
BAY BREEZE landed a wholesale gamble on his seasonal reappearance here in 2023 and followed it up when also well-supported on his next visit in June of that year. He won here on his second start last season, before posting a fourth course win in August. With his preference for cut in the ground and with that excellent track record on his CV, he has to be worth a market check.
CHELMSFORD CITY
Race 1 No9 SIRIUS WHITE
Trainer: Laura Morgan – Jockey: Miss Ellie Mayo
SIRIUS WHITE posted a 100-1 triumph under Mayo at Southwell when showing marked improvement from his first run for Morgan. It confirms that a change of scenery has assisted the grey, who now needs to show it was no fluke. Attractive betting prospects are hard to come by on this card, and if near his paper price the five-year-old rates a solid each-way proposition.
Race 3 No4 ROBBO (Nap)
Trainer: Charlie Hills – Jockey: Rob Hornby
Although this will not be a walk over for him by any means, ROBBO brings the best public form to the table in this 1400m maiden. The Camacho gelding troubled the judge on three of his four outings last year including when finishing third in a tight finish on a first visit to this track. He carries good vibes from Lambourn, and can open his account at the main expense of Kaolinite.
