Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Wednesday’s racing coming your way from Bath, Lingfield Park, Catterick Ridge, Leicester and Sandown Park on 26 July 2023.
BATH
Race 7 No1 GEARING’S POINT (Nap)
Trainer: Sheena West – Jockey: Rose Dawes
GEARING’S POINT has proved a fine servant to her connections and to us with her four successes that have seen her take a big hike in the ratings. Apprentice ridden throughout the season, she will be ably assisted by Rose Dawes, and rates the only betting opportunity on a tricky card, and one worth waiting for at the end of play.
LINGFIELD PARK
Race 1 No1 PARTY ISLAND (Nap)
Trainer: Denis Coakley – Jockey: George Bass
This is an equally difficult card for wagering, but PARTY ISLAND attracts me as one that could provide a minor upset as the outsider of four. The top weight hinted that a return to winning ways may be imminent with a frame finish last time and will be assisted by the return to his saddle of apprentice Bass who is good value for his 3lb claim.
CATTERICK BRIDGE
Race 6 No2 QUERCUS (Nap)
Trainer: Ann Duffield – Jockey: Joe Fanning
The nightcap can’t come soon enough at Catterick, where QUERCUS can further add to his excellent record at the course. Under a penalty for last week’s win he can make it a fifth course and distance triumph as the best and only bet there.
LEICESTER
Race 1 No9 TUKI TUKI
Trainer: Hughie Morrison – Jockey: Thore Hammer Hansen
Hammer Hansen isn’t getting the amount of rides he deserves, and hopefully TUKI TUKI can give the jockey’s appeal a deserved boost by landing the opening novice. The Showcasing filly ran Listed and Group 3 scorer Araminta to a little over five lengths on her Newbury debut and again ran well when taking away a minor cheque at Lingfield. She appeals as a value option to paper favourite Flying Kiss as she has the better form.
Race 3 No5 PORTORO
Trainer: Martin Dunne – Jockey: George Wood
PORTORO was denied a run last week but that could prove a blessing in disguise. He’s had more time to recover from the exertions that saw him gain a runaway success at Salisbury, and under a new handler should defy a big ratings rise and remain unbeaten on turf.
Race 4 No1 PREPENSE (Nap)
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Richard Kingscote
Most that watched PREPENSE finish third in the Sandringham at Royal Ascot will not want to oppose her in this class drop. The daughter of Kingman was ridden aggressively from close to the pace, and considering how far out she was asked to go on she did well to secure a place after being headed by Pastiche. Over the same 1400 metres distance her rider is likely to andopt a more patient approach, and in that scenario her class should see her safe home.
Race 6 No1 SWEET FANTASY
Trainer: Ralph Beckett – Jockey: Rossa Ryan
SWEET FANTASY is another handicap top weight worth supporting. She looked like a filly on the way back when switched to turf and finishing third at Haydock, and can stave off the dangerous challenge of hat-trick seeker Edwina Sheeran.
SANDOWN PARK
Race 3 No6 BEN HAMRASH
Trainer: Ed Walker – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
BEN HAMRASH opened his account courtesy of the horse that beat him being disqualified at Chelmsford last time. He’s effectively a winner that’s gone unpenalised , and as this is only his sixth ever start there should be more to come.
Race 4 No9 MUDSKIPPER (Each Way)
Trainer: David Menuisier – Jockey: William Buick
Another with few miles on his racing clock, MUDSKIPPER looks a likely contender receiving weight from all but one of his foes. Buick is an eye taking booking for the gelded son of Le Havre, who has shown promise in most of his five starts but might not have been at his best last time.
Race 5 No3 MORCAR (Nap)
Trainer: Richard Hannon – Jockey: Pat Dobbs
Respect is paid to Gallant Lion in his hat-trick attempt as well as Gozo, but the one to be on is MORCAR. He landed some good bets that saw him backed from odds against to odds on in emphatic fashion at Windsor, has benefitted from a freshening break and can make it back-to-back triumphs on the way to better things.
