Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Wednesday’s racing coming your way from Haydock Park , Huntingdon and Southwell on 19 March 2025.
HAYDOCK PARK
Race 4 No1 PRESENTING DOY (Nap)
Trainer: Emma Lavelle – Jockey: Harry Cobden
PRESENTING DOY delivered a gritty first success under Rules at Lingfield and goes into handicap company as the least experienced in this field, and the one with most room for progression. On the book she is not guaranteed to confirm her superiority over Miss Ireland, but her greater scope can shine through in another success.
Race 5 No2 ROCKINASTORM
Trainer: Henry Daly – Jockey: David Bass
It’s a first career visit to this course for ROCKINASTORM, but the racing style of the selection suggests he will greatly enjoy the terrain and the fences. He is at his best when ridden positively as was the case for his wins at Ludlow and Wetherby, and though he underwhelmed at Bangor last time he can bounce back on this better ground.
HUNTINGDON
Race 4 No1 WOLF MOON (Nap)
Trainer: Ben Pauling – Jockey: Ben Jones
WOLF MOON opened his account over jumps in assured fashion at Southwell after proving strong in the market. He’s had a nice break since that triumph and is strongly fancied to follow-up under a penalty.
Race 6 No11 SHOTGUN SHIRLEY
Trainer: Lucy Wadham – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
Soldier Of Fortune filly SHOTGUN SHIRLEY didn’t enjoy the best of passages in the straight but rallied in pleasing style to finish second on her debut in a Market Rasen bumper. She could find enough progression on this second starts to deny the more experienced pair Ride Like A Girl and Crystal Spring.
SOUTHWELL
Race 1 No6 UNTIL DAWN
Trainer: Alan Brown – Jockey: Tom Eaves
The in-form UNTIL DAWN has twice shown her preference for this course and its mile and threequarters. She was in total command at the end of her latest visit, and even though a 7lb rise seems severe enough, she is capable of coping with it and completing a fine hat-trick.
Race 3 No5 OCEAN HEIGHTS
Trainer: David Pipe – Jockey: Taylor Fisher
Old man of the party OCEAN HEIGHTS has a thing or two to prove on recent form, but if recapturing his turf levels on which he troubled the judge at Grade 1 courses last summer he could look over priced as the rank outsider. Though a dual scorer on the all-weather he needs to improve on his first run on the Tapeta surface here, but he could.
Race 4 No1 CRACKING GOLD
Trainer: Clive Cox – Jockey: Rossa Ryan
At the top of the weights CRACKING GOLD makes plenty of sense. Both his earning efforts this year in cheek pieces have shown an improvement in his form, but the key this evening is that it’s his first outing since a breathing operation.
Race 6 No9 SPIRIT OF SUMMER (Nap)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
SPIRIT OF SUMMER finished just out of the money when last seen in the Group 1 Criterium at Sant-Cloud and now takes a big class drop into a maiden. While his ability to act on an all-weather surface has to be taken on trust, if running to his official mark of 90 he should be much to good for his foes.
Race 8 No1 CHIEF MANKATO
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Edward Greatrex
CHIEF MANKATO has run several good races without winning in his short time at West Ilsley. He’s not the most straightforward horse to train and comes with risks attached, but should things fall right for him from a plum draw he can enjoy a change of luck.
