Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Thursday’s racing coming your way from Ffos Las, Uttoxeter, Hamilton, Yarmouth and Chelmsford City on 8 June 2023.
FFOS LAS
Race 6 No2 BOAGRIUS (Each Way)
Trainer: Tom George – Jockey: Harry Cobden
From a stable that’s been on the mark with a chaser this week, BOAGRIUS ran better than his finishing position indicates at Worcester where he was very easy to back. He travelled and jumped well from the front until lack of match fitness took its toll on what was a first run in five months. All the better for it, he can now raise his game to take home a cheque.
UTTOXETER
Race 5 No3 THE PLIMSOLL LINE (Nap)
Trainer: Jeremy Scott – Jockey: Rex Dingle
THE PLIMSOLL LINE has improved from race to race in three outings through the spring. After chasing home Inferno Sacree at Newton Abbot he’s poised to gain a first success in just over a year, and with few miles on his racing clock probably has more scope for progressing than his foes.
HAMILTON PARK
Race 1 No2 SWORDPLAY (Nap)
Trainer: Charlie Johnston – Jockey: Joe Fanning
SWORDPLAY made Ganesha fight for the spoils on debut here on the final day of May, and makes a quick reappearance in a step up to six furlongs that will suit in this clash with Fengari, who might struggle to concede 2lb to the Nap.
Race 5 No1 THERMOSCOPE
Trainer: Keith Dalgleish – Jockey: Billy Garritty
THERMOSCOPE bolted up on debut for his trainer at Musselburgh to merit an 11lb hammering from the handicapper. That was his second success in a row, and despite the rise he’s in the mood to complete a fine hat-trick.
YARMOUTH
Race 3 No4 SOCIETY LION (Each Way)
Trainer: Ed Dunlop – Jockey: Hollie Doyle
SOCIETY LION has had Hollie Doyle on his back for each of his last two successes, and after losing out in a tight finish at Newmarket can deliver thanks to the addition of the female touch. Apart from having an off day at Leicester the selection has earned in six of his last eight attempts, and can do so again.
Race 4 No2 TRUEMAN
Trainer: David O’Meara – Jockey: Danny Tudhope
TRUEMAN will never have the speed of his namesake who without any bias from your correspondent possessed the greatest action ever to be seen from a fast bowler on the world stage. But to his credit, the Wootton Bassett gelding looked useful in breaking his maiden by a decisive margin at Carlisle. He’s clearly going in the right direction and is bred to enjoy stretching out to a mile for this handicap debut.
Race 5 No7 BLINDEDBYTHELIGHTS (Nap)
Trainer: Sir Mark Prescott – Jockey: Luke Morris
Trying to oppose the proven formula exhibited time and again by Prescott with his three-year-olds in a switch to handicaps can be a futile business. He is a master in getting exaggerated improvement out of horses that showed nothing in three readying runs, of whom BLINDEDBYTHELIGHTS will hopefully prove a perfect example. The gelding is closely related to a winner over an extended mile and a quarter, and will surely relish the step up to an even greater distance this evening.
CHELMSFORD CITY
Race 1 No6 PERSIAN PHOENIX (Nap)
Trainer: Charlie Johnston – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
Phoenix Of Spain filly PERSIAN PHOENIX underwhelmed when supported on her Redcar introduction but is capable of leaving that midfield finish well behind in a race that might not take much winning. She is going to be more streetwise and unlikely to run green, and can topple paper favourite Lady Ava.
Race 3 No9 MANTOOG
Trainer: Owen Burrows – Jockey: Dane O’Neill
This is the most interesting race on the card and one in which MANTOOG can do well. The Kingman filly has been backed on each of her two outings and run into useful foes in Inner Space at Kempton and Truthful at Salisbury. Back on Polytrack, she can open her account at the main expense of penalised pair Queen Of Fairies and Opera Forever.
