Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Wednesday’s racing coming your way from York, Newton Abbot, Worcester, Perth and Bath on 17 May 2023.
YORK
Race 1 No2 TASMAN SEA (Each Way)
Trainer: William Haggas – Jockey: Richard Kingscote
TASMAN SEA is a speculative advice to give us a good start to this prestigious May Festival. The gelding endured a stop start campaign with only three appearances in 2022 but it was a difffent story the previous year when he finished second in the King Edward VII Stakes and third in the Group 2 Prix Guillaume D’Ornano at Deauville. It could prove beneficial to draw a line through what happened last year and support him at a big price for this first run in a handicap, especially as it’s his first run out of Haggas’s Somerville Lodge premises.
Race 2 No16 BIELSA (Each Way)
Trainer: Kevin Ryan – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
Only 24 hours after his namesake signed up as coach of the Uruguay national team, BIELSA can put his best foot forward in this wide open sprint handicap. He ran a cracker when second at Redcar when easy to back, but if that’s blown away the cobwebs he should be cherry ripe to make a mark in a race he’s contested without profit in 2022 and 2021.
Race 3 1895 Duke Of York Clipper Stakes (Group 2)
No1 HIGHFIELD PRINCESS
Trainer: John Quinn – Jockey: Jason Hart
HIGHFIELD PRINCESS kept defying her critics with a trio of Group 1 triumphs last season as well as an earning run at the Keeneland Breeders’ Cup. The Night Of Thunder mare needs to buck the trend of needing her first run back, but if doing so should prove hard to beat. This has been on her agenda ever since her American mission, and she can stave off the challenges of Creative Force, Commanche Falls and Art Power.
Race 4 Tattersalls Musidora Stakes (Group 3)
No2 GATHER YE ROSEBUDS (Nap)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Jamie Spencer
It’s difficult to know how much both Infinite Cosmos and GATHER YE ROSEBUDS achieved in their respective races at Newmarket and Newbury, but the odds on one of them landing this recognised Oaks trial are short. The former had to play second fiddle to Sea Of Roses on her debut at Doncaster but made no mistake when returning to action on the Rowley course, looking better the further she travelled. GATHER YE ROSEBUDS was allowed to start at 33-1 for her debut over ten furlongs at Newbury where she relished the testing conditions to score by just short of a double figure margin. The Zoffany filly isn’t in the Oaks, but the way she’s worked subsequently suggests she’s going to be well worth supplementing, though her connections may opt for a crack at the Ribblesdale.
NEWTON ABBOT
Race 5 No9 CHANTILLY HAZE (Each Way)
Trainer: Phil Dando – Jockey: Conor Ring
CHANTILLY HAZE races in a manner that should suit the tight Newton Abbot circuit, though as a mare who is winless in 23 starts she comes with risks attached. In spite of her patchy record she regularly attracts market support, and having put in one of her better performances when second at Exeter last time this could finally be her day.
WORCESTER
Race 1 No8 EROS (Each Way)
Trainer: Kayley Woollacott – Jockey: Ben Godfrey
EROS is a pea out of the same pod as Chantilly Haze. He’s a good jumper and strong traveller but when finding himself in a winning position the distress signals go out. Interestingly this is his first visit to Newton Abbot, where so short is the run-in that rarely does the horse that jumps the last in front get beaten. Connections of my selection might do well to embrace that fact when giving their jockey his instructions.
Race 4 No1 ALMAZHAR GARDE (Nap)
Trainer: Charlie Longsdon – Jockey: Bradley Roberts
Bold front runner ALMAZHAR GARDE is another for whom this sharp track can prove beneficial. He’s back over hurdles but can prove hard to peg back if achieving an uncontested lead.
PERTH
Race 5 No4 VICTORY ECHO
Trainer: Maurice Barnes – Jockey: Conor Rabbit
The only advice on a tricky card of summer jumping is VICTORY ECHO. He was a clear cut scorer over the course and distance at the end of last month and went close to following-up at Market Rasen last week. He took those exertions in his stride and can thwart paper favourite Cardboard Gangster.
BATH
Race 1 No4 DIAMOND COTTAGE (Each Way)
Trainer: Malcolm Saunders – Jockey: William Carson
Saunders has a great record with his sprinters at this course which is closest to his base in the Quantock hills. His mare DIAMOND COTTAGE is back here for the first time since the corresponding meeting of 2022, when he finished just out of the money. However, she’s currently in good order, having won at Brighton and taken away a minor cheque at Wolverhampton.
Race 3 No2 CLUEDO (Nap)
Trainer: Henry Candy – Jockey: Dane O’Neill
CLUEDO is up against an in-form filly in Wedgewood but this Kodiac filly is one I’ve been looking forward to when running in a handicap. She progressed from race to race to obtain a mark last year, and has shaped well in her preparatory work for this return to action, while her stable has made a good solid start to the season.
Race 6 No3 WATERLOO SUNSET
Trainer: Denis Coakley – Jockey: George Bass
Although underwhelming at Windsor last time WATERLOO SUNSET came away with a genuine excuse. He needs to show he’s as good on turf as on sand, but his trainer looks to have found a suitable opening for the gelding to bounce back.
Race 8 No3 OBAMA ARMY
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: George Bass
OBAMA ARMY has looked like winning each of his last two outings only to have to give second best. He has a good draw and racing over his optimum distance, with a good apprentice in the saddle who knows him. He has to be taken seriously.
