Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Thursday’s racing coming your way from Haydock Park, Catterick Bridge, Chelmsford City and Sandown Park on 25 May 2023.
HAYDOCK PARK
Race 4 No2 MANILA SCOUSE (Nap)
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: Paul Mulrennan
MANILA SCOUSE made a pleasing return from an enforced absence when going down in a photo to Reigning Profit at Ripon. As long as he doesn’t succumb to the bounce factor, the Aclaim gelding can go one better for a yard that is just starting to get into gear.
Race 7 No7 AL MOTASIM
Trainer: Hugo Palmer – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
AL MOTASIM regressed after making a promising start at Newcastle but his three races obtained him a mark from which to start again after a winter break in which he’s strengthened up. Murphy adds lustre to his chance as the Lope De Vega gelding goes down the handicap route.
CATTERICK BRIDGE
Race 3 No8 NIGHT AT SEA (Nap)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Ben Curtis
Sea The Stars filly NIGHT AT SEA can upset paper favourite Prosper Legend in this weakly contested maiden. The selection stepped up from her first run when troubling the Chester judge two weeks ago and has gone forward to make her an attractive betting proposition at the respective prices.
Race 7 No1 OBEE JO (Each Way)
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: Brandon Wilkes
OBEE JO showed a liking for this tight track when scoring over the course and distance last week, and is out again to strike while the iron’s hot. He faces strong competition from Mr Jetman and Josiebond but is better drawn than that pair, on a sharp turning circuit where good gate position counts for a lot.
CHELMSFORD CITY
Race 2 No2 ROGUE DE VEGA
Trainer: Tom Clover – Jockey: David Egan
ROGUE DE VEGA caught a tartar in Rhythm N Hooves on his introduction here but the Lope De Vega gelding will surely not meet anything of that ilk as he tries to go one better as a worthy favourite for this novice.
Race 4 No5 ART OF ROMANCE
Trainer: Brian Meehan – Jockey: Andrea Atzeni
From a better draw than those in front of him in the betting Caravaggio colt ART OF ROMANCE should earn in the first division of the novice stakes. He came out best of those taking on runaway scorer Covey at Newmarket last month and is going to be more streetwise on this second career start.
Race 5 No5 FLY ZONE (Nap)
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Rhys Clutterbuck
The giant FLY ZONE has an aversion to the stalls which tempts me to wait until the last seconds before backing him, but his ability is there for all to see. The Expert Eye gelding attracted late support on his Yarmouth return and finished clear second to a very well-regarded foe. He also has a plum draw for this race around a circuit of the track.
SANDOWN PARK
Race 2 No7 ON POINT
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: William Buick
Rookie sire Blue Point is well represented in this Listed race that should have a bearing on the betting for the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot. Blue Storm delivered on debut at Newmarket in a race that has worked out supremely well, with four of those behind him scoring subsequently.
However, Godolphin’s ON POINT was himself game in inching home at the same track, and has learned plenty from it. He can further cement the good start of his sire, with Hackman one whose price looks inflated bearing in mind how professional he was in opening his account at Chester.
Race 3 Racehorse Lotto Henry II Stakes (Group 3)
No3 ROBERTO ESCOBAR
Trainer: William Haggas – Jockey: Richard Kingscote
ROBERTO ESCOBAR races on grass for the first time in 18 months but in a disappointing field is the one that could have more to offer. He was a Listed class scorer at York two years ago, and indicated with placed efforts at Kempton and Wolverhampton that he’s retained much of his old ability.
Race 4 Racehorse Lotto Brigadier Gerard Stakes (Group 3)
No4 DESERT CROWN (Nap)
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Richard Kingscote
The 2022 Derby winner DESERT CROWN had his career put on hold by a hairline fracture of a joint which means this is his first outing in almost a year. The Nathaniel colt defends a three-race unbeaten record with Solid Stone, who accompanies him in all his work in Newmarket, acting as a pacemaker in this tantalising feature.
Stoute has nurtured the odds-on favourite back to full health and has him close to 100% following a couple of very satisfactory gallops on Polytrack and on grass. The presence of Hukum means it will be no penalty kick for the Nap, but he can by beating that foe stamp himself as a horse that has been well worth the wait, as well as the effort.
Race 5 No1 AERION POWER (Each Way)
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Richard Kingscote
AERION POWER is preferred in the betting by his stablemate Assessment but is more than capable of raising his game. He’s still to prove that after coming back from an enforced absence he’s as good as he was, but having benefitted from a solid enough run at Leicester I’ll stick with him to earn at a decent price. Assessment appeals as the one with scope for improvement, but after getting loose and being withdrawn at York is not completely guaranteed to give of his best.
Race 6 No2 PRINCE OF ZENDA (Each Way)
Trainer: Hugo Palmer – Jockey: James Doyle
PRINCE OF ZENDA has to cope with a tricky draw on the outer, but if doing so looks a solid each-way proposition for a very tough finale. The selection put in a cracking run on his return to action at Ascot on a first outing on grass when equipped with a visor for the first time. He encounters much quicker ground this evening, but by staving off the challenges of Garrick Street, Greek Order and Umberto can show himself to be a candidate for the Britannia Stakes next month.
