Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Wednesday’s racing coming your way from Newmarket, Beverley, Cheltenham and Kempton Park on 19 April 2023.
NEWMARKET
Race 1 No12 GENTLE WHINNY (Each Way)
Trainer: Denis Coakley – Jockey: Tom Marquand
GENTLE WHINNY is one that might go under the radar in this competitive heat over the Guineas mile. The Churchill filly attracted plenty of market support when opening her account on a third and final outing of 2022 at Windsor, and has progressed both physically and mentally through the winter.
Race 2 No9 CHAIRMANOFTHEBOARD (Each Way)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Tom Marquand
Although he has work to do with Aleezdancer from their meeting at Doncaster CHAIRMANOFTHEBOARD can shorten or bridge the gap now racing on soft ground and stripping fitter than he was on Town Moor. That race appeared to be over before it started for the seven-year-old, who stayed on when the birds had flow. He should be much more on the case here.
Race 4 Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes (Group 3)
No3 COPPICE (Nap)
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: Frankie Dettori
Kingman filly COPPICE is the most prominent these in the ante-post market for the 1,000 Guineas and can boost her claims for that Classic. She was a well-supported winner of her only start at Kempton in the late autumn, and while the number of runners in this trial tells you how open the race is, represents a trainer/jockey combo that needs no introduction when it comes to assembling live candidates for the Guineas races. Of the other 14 fillies, Godolphin’s FAIRY CROSS is fit from a select campaign in Dubai, while MAMMAS GIRL is worth a market check on the basis of her eye-taking debut success for Richard Hannon over course and distance last October.
Race 6 No15 SILVER LADY
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: William Buick
SILVER LADY is a beautifully-bred daughter of Sea The Stars who holds an entry for the Irish Guineas. The Godolphin-owned filly is the subject of positive vibes from a stable that has several unknown quantities amongst its distaffer contingent. She can have a say in the outcome of this wide open maiden and could surprise the more experienced paper favourite Ludmilla.
BEVERLEY
Race 4 No2 VETIVER (Nap)
Trainer: Andrew a Balding – Jockey: PJ McDonald
Twilight Son filly VETIVER gained useful experience of this track when opening her account in the late summer. It endorsed the promise of her earning debut run at Chepstow, and she’s strongly fancied to boost the good record of her trainer here.
Race 5 No6 FLASH BARDOT (Each Way)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: George Bass
FLASH BARDOT gamely resisted Ermesinde to open her account at Lingfield. The triumph seems to have acted as a confidence boost judging by how she’s been working, and another earning performance is in the offing.
CHELTENHAM
Race 1 No9 SUPER SIX
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
Although he has ground to make up on Heltenham from Newbury last month, SUPER SIX is fancied to bounce back in this ultra-competitive opener. The grey is the youngest member of the party and open to further progression on his first season out of novice company. This drying ground should be more to his liking than the holding conditions he experienced last time.
Race 2 No12 MASTER CHEWY (Each Way)
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
MASTER CHEWY has strong credentials for his second outing in a handicap. The first saw him finish just out of the money in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury, while he was given a hard task when a 200-1 roughie for the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at the Festival last month. He’s been most unfortunate not to score this season, and with the changing going also set to suit him he can put in a big earning run.
Race 3 No8 YOUNG BULL (Each Way)
Trainer: Harry Whittington- Jockey: Daryl Jacob
YOUNG BULL failed to cut the mustard at Exeter where he was on and off the bridle for most of the marathon journey. That came after a stop-start campaign during which silly incidents prevented him from running. His overall record as a chaser is one of sheer consistency, and even though this is a wickedly competitive race he can get into the shake-up.
Race 4 No3 CHASING FIRE
Trainer: Olly Murphy – Jockey: Aidan Coleman
The divide between the top Irish novices and our own was graphically illustrated by CHASING FIRE’s effort in the Supreme at last month’s Festival. Defending a four-race unbeaten record, the six-year-old was still cantering at the third-last flight, but then capitulated to beat only one of his rivals. It was very much a bridge too far for this still exciting individual, who now in calmer waters can bounce back.
KEMPTON PARK
Race 2 No6 DOCKLANDS
Trainer: Harry Eustace – Jockey: Hayley Turner
Market rivals Ray Vonn and DOCKLANDS are both drawn favourably in this maiden round a right-handed bend, but the former has had a few chances. Docklands is however racing for only a third time, and under the same jockey that piloted him into second on his all-weather debut at Wolverhampton can go one better.
Race 7 No1 DONALD LLEWELLYN
Trainer: Gary Moore – Jockey: Tom Queally
Moore has sent out a flurry of winners this month, and DONALD LLEWELLYN can add to that tally in the nightcap. He looked to score with plenty in reserve upped to this marathon distance here two weeks ago, and has a great chance to follow-up off his revised mark.
