Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Wednesday’s racing coming your way from Newmarket, Fontwell Park, Southwell and Kempton Park on 23 October 2024.
NEWMARKET
Race 2 No8 PINHOLE
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Billy Loughnane
Frankel colt PINHOLE is of great interest in this back end novice and requires a market check as one of the final runners on the Rowley course for his legendary trainer. He’s got substance and presence, whilst having shown abundant promise in his work leading up to this belated first visit to the track.
Race 3 No6 THE CURSOR
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: David Probert
Those with previous form look beatable, and should THE CURSOR avoid running green on his debut the Frankel colt could be the answer. He hails from a very good family, while his stable too out the corresponding race 12 months ago.
Race 4 No1 ANNIVERSARY (Nap)
Trainer: Ralph Beckett – Jockey: Rob Hornby
Although set to concede upwards of 7lb to his opponents, ANNIVERSARY should be up to the task in hand. The Sea The Moon colt brings solid form to the table via his July course success on debut and second on unsuitably heavy ground at Epsom, and will appreciate stretching out to a mile and a quarter.
Race 6 No2 BYBLOS
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: Kieran Shoemark
BYBLOS is yet another son of Frankel who can excel on this card devoted to juveniles. He enjoys the advantage of having has a couple of outings already, culminating in a pleasing effort to chase home Tornado Alert at Newcastle. This is his first run on grass, but he’s worked well on it at home.
FONTWELL PARK
Race 4 No5 CLASSIC LORD (Nap)
Trainer: Tim Vaughan – Jockey: Alan Johns
CLASSIC LORD had very good form on the Flat in his younger days whilst showing a liking for this figure-of-eight course when winning a heavy ground novice hurdle a year ago. He followed-up in a similar race at Bangor and ran well in his second handicap at Aintree. He remains lightly raced over jumps, and should enjoy the testing conditions to outrun his forecast price.
Race 5 No7 EURKASH
Trainer: James Owen – Jockey: Sean Bowen
EURKASH went off too freely for his own good at Stratford and was a spent force at the end of the back straight. On this fourth outing for his new handler and return to fences Bowen is back in the hot seat, and under a more controlled ride the ten-year-old should be seen in a better light.
SOUTHWELL
Race 2 No1 MR MACKAY
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Mr Toby McCain-Mitchell
MR MACKAY hasn’t looked a total natural since having his attention turned to fences, yet has never looked like falling. Nevertheless he disappointed on his latest start at Perth and needs to put that blip behind him under a new rider and with cheek pieces added.
Race 3 No2 DEEP PURPLE (Nap)
Trainer: Dan Skelton – Jockey: Harry Skelton
DEEP PURPLE shaped well on his first outing for the Skeltons at Warwick earlier in the month. In the colours of a new owner to this yard the gelding can open his account under Rules.
KEMPTON PARK
Race 2 No1 FORT AUGUSTUS
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Jamie Spencer
FORT AUGUSTUS has a good drawn for a horse that likes to race handily and if continuing his progression from race to race can take the spoils. He put in a career best when second to Hucklesbrook on a first run in a nursery and first on the all-weather here and if performing to that level under a new jockey can repel the attentions of CURZON.
Race 8 No11 GLOUCESTERSHIRE (Each Way)
Trainer: Martyn Meade – Jockey: Joe Leavy
GLOUCESTERSHIRE is an infrequent visitor to the track and has skipped a couple of opportunities since returning to his original trainer. A winner on his debut here back in 2020, he enjoyed a successful spell with Todd Pletcher in the US and ran well on a sole start for Richard Hannon at Newmarket in the spring. He’s only once finished out of the money in 12 career starts, making him at the age of six a very interesting contender for this Class3, in spite of his tricky draw on the outer.
Race 9 No5 CADOGAN PLACE (Nap)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
CADOGAN PLACE rates an appealing prospect for this long distance three-year-old only handicap and can prove a bet worth waiting for. His rivals each have at least twice as much experience as him, leaving him as the one most open to progression in a step up in trip that should unquestionably play to his strengths.
