Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Thursday’s racing coming your way from Leicester, Hamilton Park, Worcester and Epsom Downs on 20 July 2023.
Race 2 No6 EYESHADOW (Nap)
Trainer: Roger Charlton – Jockey: Richard Kingscote
Expert Eye filly EYESHADOW earned for the first time in three starts when fourth in a Thirsk novice from which she obtained a handicap mark. This well-related individual receives weight from her five opponents and if progressing at a normal rate can open her account.
Race 3 No7 ON EDGE
Trainer: C Mason – Jockey: William Cox
ON EDGE meets his foe Louis Trieze on worse terms than when beating him by half a length over course and distance earlier in the month. My selection has a good record at this course, and with his tail up is fancied to confirm the placings.
LEICESTER
Race 4 No10 HILL FILLY (Each Way)
Trainer: Hughie Morrison – Jockey: PJ McDonald
HILL FILLY’s earning run behind multiple scorer Chriszoff reads well, and she wasn’t at home switched to Polytrack in a subsequent outing that gained her a handicap mark. The daughter of Kingston Hill should be right in the mix back on turf in this new sphere of the racing spectrum.
Race 5 No6 PAK ARMY (Nap)
Trainer: Brian Barr – Jockey: William Carson
PAK ARMY has an impressive record of four wins from his last five outings over hurdles to take to the table on this first Flat outing of the year. The former Irish-trained gelding figures to be dangerous and could not have been easy for the handicapper to assess.
HAMILTON PARK
Race 5 No2 HAPPIER (Nap)
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: Sean Kirrane
HAPPIER ran into a well treated rival when chasing home Sophia’s Starlight at Carlisle earlier in the week. That was a solid display on handicap debut, and the Profitable filly can go one better at the main expense of Stormy Pearl.
WORCESTER
Race 2 No2 PRINCESS MIDNIGHT (Nap)
Trainer: Joe Tizzard – Jockey: Brendan Powell
Slick jumping is the hallmark of PRINCESS MIDNIGHT’s all round game plan. Since Tizzard took charge of her on the retirement of his father Colin she’s won three chases and been placed in all but one of her other seven starts. Moving up the distance ladder, she should be hard to beat if getting onto an easy lead.
Race 5 No1 ZUCAYAN
Trainer: Fergal O’Brien – Jockey: Nick Slatter
ZUCAYAN was an authoritative scorer at Ludlow for which he incurred a 4lb rise in the ratings. This is curtailed by the retention of a conditional rider who takes 5lb off his back, and the combination can follow-up.
Race 6 No9 WOODIE FLASH
Trainer: Olly Murphy – Jockey: Sean Bowen
WOODIE FLASH was a point winner in Ireland before joining Murphy for whom he’s finished second in both outings under Rules. He’s moving up the distance ladder tonight, and with his stable in tip top form can repel the attentions of Teeceethree.
EPSOM DOWNS
Race 2 No6 MISSION TO MOON
Trainer: Roger Varian – Jockey: David Egan
MISSION TO MOON benefitted from a step up to 1400 metres when second at Kempton. He has a good draw in this race round an exaggerated downhill left- handed bend into an undulating straight and on this third career start can get the better of Inner City.
Race 6 No8 SPRITZIN (Nap)
Trainer: Sir Mark Prescott – Jockey: Luke Morris
SPRITZIN made the inevitable step up in trip from a mile to a mile and a half on her handicap debut and first run on turf. Second in a close photo on that occasion, the daughter is Sea The Stars can add to the flurry of winners being sent out by her trainer as we reach the peak of the summer.
