Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Wednesday’s racing coming your way from Sandown Park, Yarmouth, Beverley and Kelso on 18 September 2024.
SANDOWN PARK
Race 2 No11 WILD NATURE (Nap)
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: James Doyle
WILD NATURE is a beautifully-bred individual who shaped with abundant promise when second on his first run over today’s course and distance. The gelding has progressed nicely from that first offering, and should have too many guns for Prince Of The Seas, who is a pea out of the same pod and needs respecting.
Race 7 No5 QUESTIONABLE (Each Way)
Trainer: Daniel Kubler – Jockey: Billy Loughnane
QUESTIONABLE has fewer questions to answer than her main opponents in this fillies’ handicap. The daughter of Time Test had Loughnane in the hot seat for the first time when unable to justify hefty support at Chepstow, but with this extra quarter mile sure to suit the combination can parry the challenges of Alvesta and Rose Branch.
YARMOUTH
Race 2 No6 HOLD A DREAM
Trainer: Clive Cox – Jockey: Rossa Ryan
HOLD A DREAM has been unfortunate not to score as in two outings she’s been beaten an aggregate of just over a length. Those defeats came at Grade 1 courses and with her experience edge she can open her account on the way to better things.
Race 3 No6 NIGHTWALKER (Nap)
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Ryan Moore
Frankel colt NIGHTWALKER ran green on his Leicester introduction but managed to stay on into the money. Some juveniles from this stable haven’t gone forward on their second outing, but the selection is well regarded and unlikely to add his name to that small list.
Race 3 EBF Stallions John Musker Fillies’ Stakes (Listed)
No11 ESTRANGE
Trainer: David O’Meara – Jockey: Danny Tudhope
ESTRANGE rates one of the most impressive first time out winners of the season after romping home without coming off the bridle at Goodwood. The daughter of Night Of Thunder revelled in the easy conditions but should be equally at home on what will be a perfect racing surface today. It’s a big step up for the grey, but if she’s as good as she looked I fancy she can cause problems to the likes of SEA JUST IN TIME, KARMOLOGY and tasty outsider TEN DIMES.
Race 5 No5 MAJESTIC
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: David Probert
JAMES WEBB looked to come of age when opening his account at this course last month and may have turned a corner, but both ROI DE FRANCE and especially MAJESTIC can prove stumbling blocks in his attempt to follow-up. Roi De France made up for a costly defeat at Windsor by making no mistake on a return visit to that course, while MAJESTIC is bouncing after being given a mid season break, and looked in good order stretching out with another older horse on a grass gallop at West Ilsley on Monday.
BEVERLEY
Race 2 No8 ON KEY
Trainer: Julie Camacho – Jockey: Ryan Sexton
Cable Bay colt ON KEY proved easy to back on debut at Redcar but put in a most encouraging effort in chasing home a clear cut winner in Jungle Drums. Dropping back to 1000 metres shouldn’t be a problem for him, and he can prove a thorn in the side of paper favourite American Style.
Race 4 No8 SURPRISED (Nap)
Trainer: Ed Bethell – Jockey: Callum Rodriguez
Sands Of Indi has shown ability on both outings but has a tricky draw, making SURPRISED a tempting option. The Ulysses filly only beat one home on her introduction here but that entailed just a length and a quarter margin between herself and the winner. Furthermore she should have gained valuable track craft that will serve her well in this admittedly warm heat.
Race 7 No6 ROYAL COLLEGE
Trainer: Charlie Johnston – Jockey: Joe Fanning
ROYAL COLLEGE faces a couple of well touted raiders from Newmarket, but can hold them at bay. The Wootton Bassett colt has in fairness been beaten a long way in each of his earning starts but with the advantage of the rail could quickly set his stall out to dominate, as runners from his stable so often do.
KELSO
Race 1 No2 INTENSE APPROACH (Nap)
Trainer: John McConnell – Jockey: A Harvey
INTENSE APPROACH is light years ahead of his rivals on ratings, and following a demolition job on his latest run over hurdles at Downpatrick should follow-up for top connections.
Race 5 No3 PAY THE PIPER
Trainer: Ann Hamilton – Jockey: Danny McMenamin
PAY THE PIPER put in some solid efforts last season without managing to win. He’s shown he can operate well after a break, and this first outing since the end of May can see him in a good light under a jockey who has ridden him in six of his last seven starts.
