Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Tuesday’s racing coming your way from Epsom Downs, Yarmouth, Southwell and Wolverhampton on 23 April 2024.
EPSOM DOWNS
Race 2 No6 FEIGNING MADNESS
Trainer: Ralph Beckett – Jockey: Hector Crouch
Coolmore raider Chief Little Rock will command a large chunk of the betting handle in this Derby trial, but preference is for the unbeaten FEIGNING MADNESS. The son of Ulysses triumphed in tight finishes with New Chelsea at Newbury and Harper’s Ferry at Newmarket, and while those formlines have received some knocks, he’s reported to have thrived for his winter break, and will enjoy stretching out to a mile and a quarter.
Race 3 No7 QITAAL (Nap)
Trainer: Charlie Johnston – Jockey: Joe Fanning
While he’s the least experienced contender for the historic City & Suburban Handicap, QITAAL has the greatest scope for progression, having impressed with his attitude when scoring on a first run for his trainer at Doncaster. There should be more to come from the former Irish-based gelding, who is already a winner over this distance and gets a handy weight concession from main rival Felix.
Race 4 No6 CHAMPAGNE PIAFF
Trainer: Gary Moore – Jockey: Ryan Moore
The ‘Great Met’ can go to an old firm father and son combination who rarely team up these days. In CHAMPAGNE PIAFF Moore has a perfect type for the mile-and-a-half contest in that the Le Havre gelding showed with his earning run after 900 days off at Bath that he’s retained plenty of his former ability. Prior to going onto the injury list he’d scored on three occasions and shown the ability to handle contrasting types of ground. With relatively few miles on his racing clock, he can go well forward.
Race 6 No6 SHOW BIZ KID (Each Way)
Trainer: Richard Hannon – Jockey: Sean Levey
Two horses with identical profiles take my eye in an intriguing nightcap. Portsmouth showed ability in obtaining a mark but is not as well drawn at SHOW BIZ KID, whose stable bagged a hatful of winners last week. The selection, a son of Acclamation, will enjoy returning on grass and can demonstrate by taking the spoils that he’s progressed both physically and mentally.
YARMOUTH
Race 5 No13 CHARLATAN (Nap)
Trainer: David Simcock – Jockey: Callum Shepherd
CHARLATAN was a good servant to his connections with a hat-trick of all-weather successes through the winter while being placed on his other two outings. He’s the most interesting horse on view at this meeting now switching to turf, and with another triumph can show he’s sneaked under the handicapper’s radar.
Race 6 a No1 CERVARO DELLA SALA
Trainer: Paul Cole – Jockey: Jamie Spencer
Bungle Inthejungle filly CERVARO DELLA SALA troubled the judge in each of her four starts at a juvenile through the latter stages of 2023. She’s worked well on the grass gallops at Whatcombe, and with a success on handicap debut can maintain the good form of the Cole stable generally.
SOUTHWELL
Race 5 No4 THE LORD MAID (Nap)
Trainer: Tom Lacey – Jockey: Stan Sheppard
THE LORD MAID was sourced from a proven supplier in Ireland after comfortably taking out a maiden hurdle at Clonmel in February. She had also run well in two bumpers for John Halley and has plenty to recommend her on this first outing under Rules.
Race 6 No5 HIGH TREASON (Each Way)
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
HIGH TREASON won at Fontwell and earned in his other two starts over hurdles before finding a hot contest at Sandown a bridge too far. As a 33-1 roughie he wasn’t disgraced in that Class 1 handicap, and should find solace charting calmer waters now back in a Class 4, although MR BRAMLEY rates a big danger and is definitely worth saving on.
WOLVERHAMPTON
Race 3 No2 RAINWATER
Trainer: Richard Fahey – Jockey: Oisin Orr
RAINWATER did not go unbacked when chasing home Forever Blue at Haydock last August but wasn’t seen again. The Mayson gelding has been afforded the time to mature into his frame, and can be seen to even better effect now tackling the 1400 metres trip.
Race 5 No5 MISS CYNTHIA (Nap)
Trainer: Sir Mark Prescott – Jockey: Luke Morris
Prescott has waited to saddle his first runners of the season, and that patient policy can start paying dividends with MISS CYNTHIA in this stayers’ handicap. Having earned in all five of her starts for the Heath House trainer on turf last year, she can now gain an important first career success as the best bet on this card.
Race 7 No2 ARLECCHINO’S GIFT
Trainer: Mark Usher – Jockey: Olivia Tubb
ARLECCHINO’S GIFT needs to step lively when exiting his wide gate in this sprint, but if managing that the five-year-old can add to his good recent record at this course where he is a dual winner and has frequently been placed.
