Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Thursday’s racing coming your way from Newcastle, Newmarket, Nottingham, Hamilton and Leicester on 29 June 2023.
NEWCASTLE
Race 4 No4 SYMBOL OF LIGHT (Nap)
Trainer: Julie Camacho – Jockey: Graham Lee
Easily the most interesting horse on view at this meeting is SYMBOL OF LIGHT. The Shamardal gelding makes his debut for Camacho as a Godolphin cast-off, but one that completed an all-weather hat-trick before changing ownership. In the colours of the enthusiastic and popular Martin Hughes he can make this a winning first visit to Gosforth Park.
Race 5 No7 MR STRUTTER (Each Way)
Trainer: David Thomson – Jockey: Andrew Elliott
MR STRUTTER has become well handicapped and just needs the cards to fall right in order to experience a change of luck. The nine-year-old didn’t enjoy the rub of the green on his first run of the season at Pontefract and again when seeing too much daylight at Catterick. If his rider can obtain cover the gelding can make an earning final bid.
NEWMARKET
Race 4 No8 SPRING DAWN (Nap)
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: William Buick
From a stable that could badly do with a winner, SPRING DAWN can form part of the rescue operation. The Kodiac filly ran well after attracting heavy support when second to English Rose and had previously run into an able foe in Prepense when making her debut, both those contests being on the Rowley course. Switched to the July course today, she will hopefully make no mistake.
Race 6 No5 POWER OF DARKNESS (Each Way)
Trainer: Charlie Fellowes – Jockey: Mikkel Mortensen
Carded to go off the outsider in a field of nine, POWER OF DARKNESS is worth persevering with as his trainer introduces an apprentice onto his back for the first time on turf. His claims are not obvious, but I don’t believe he has deteriorated and that he’s getting close to a mark from which he can bounce back.
NOTTINGHAM
Race 1 No7 THE GOOD BISCUIT (Each Way)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Charles Bishop
None of those with public form set the pulse racing, but one that can leave his first run a long way behind is THE GOOD BISCUIT. The Sixties Icon colt ran green from on the pace before weakening on at Carlisle. It was an effort not devoid of promise, and like so many from this stable he will have learned plenty going into his second race.
Race 3 No1 LONG AGO (Nap)
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
Roaring Lion filly LONG AGO has to give away upwards of 7lb courtesy of her penalty for a clear-cut success over Cherry at Chelmsford. The chestnut faces a dangerous class dropper in Elegancia, but should be up to the task in hand, to make it back-to-back successes.
Race 7 No1 FRED BEAR
Trainer: Sheena West – Jockey: Tommie Jakes
FRED BEAR did himself a favour by scoring by the width of a well-smoked cigarette over two miles at Catterick, a win that afforded him a minimal ride in the ratings. The five-year-old should find this galloping track more to his liking, while his task is eased by the 5lb claim of his apprentice rider.
HAMILTON PARK
Race 4 No6 BOSC GIRL (Nap)
Trainer: Richard Fahey – Jockey: Paul Hanagan
BOSC GIRL to beat Godwinson is the way this mile-and-a-quarter maiden should pan out. The selection ran well on debut to claim a minor cheque at Newcastle and showed she’s just as happy on grass by chasing home Market Value at Ripon. That should have primed her for a first career triumph.
LEICESTER
Race 1 No4 PHONE TAG
Trainer: Hugo Palmer – Jockey: Ross Coakley
Great Truth is a blue-blooded newcomer for whom a market move could prove significant, but the one with the points on the board, PHONE TAG, is less risky and preferred. The Havana Grey colt had Paladin behind him when third at Haydock after proving strong in the market, and now on his third outing is ready not only confirm his superiority but to win.
Race 2 No2 GEARING’S POINT (Nap)
Trainer: Sheena West – Jockey: George Bass
GEARING’S POINT did us a favour when scoring in a race that was not run to suit her at Yarmouth. Off a stop-start pace she got home narrowly, but granted more of an end to end gallop and with Bass back in the hot seat she can add to her laurels against rivals that are struggling to win.
Race 7 No1 EXPERT WITNESS (Each Way)
Trainer: Sir Mark Todd – Jockey: Aidan Keeley
Obama Army will be the go-to horse for many and justifiably so, granted his fine win and place record this year. However, top-weight EXPERT WITNESS could start at twice his price, and put in a pleasing effort in handicap bow last month to suggest she is a value alternative worth taking. The daughter of Expert Eye battled on well to finish just out of the money, she will appreciate the extra quarter mile and has a good apprentice taking 5lb off her back.
