Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Wednesday’s racing coming your way from day 2 of the Chester May Meeting as well as the best of the rest from Southwell, Thirsk and Chelmsford City.
CHESTER
Race 2 No9 SELF ACLAIM
Trainer: Hugo Palmer – Jockey: Richard Kingscote
Hugo Palmer is sure to have targeted this race with SELF ACLAIM who gets 8lb from the hooded favourite Vetiver, and can give that foe plenty to think about. A Wolverhampton scorer on his final outing in 2022, the colt exhibited gritty determination to shade Razoni at Newcastle and can show he’s gone forward from that pleasing effort.
Race 3 Boodles Dee Stakes (Listed)
No6 PASSENGER
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Richard Kingscote
PASSENGER was prevented by minor hiccups from running as a juvenile, but the Ulysses colt started to make up for lost time with a clear-cut triumph in the Wood Ditton Stakes at Newmarket last month. He’s up against the anticipated strong Coolmore challenge of San Antonio as well as another Irish raider that needs respecting in Alder. Without question the selection needs to progress to win, but the way he’s been working I think he can.
Race 4 tote.co.uk Bet 5 Get 20 Ormonde Stakes (Group 3)
No1 HAMISH (Nap)
Trainer: William Haggas – Jockey: Tom Marquand
HAMISH hails from a stable that’s been a but quiet, but the seven-year-old can provide it with an adrenaline boost by taking out a race that remembers one of the greatest horses of all time.
The Nap has a very good record when returning from a break, as shown when he gamely landed the corresponding race 12 months ago. He was an impressive winner of the Cumberland Lodge at Ascot in the autumn and failed on a close photo to repel Max Vega in the St Simon Stakes at Newbury.
Soft ground holds no perils for him, and by confirming his superiority over the last-named horse he can triumph in this Day 2 feature.
Race 6 No3 HACKMAN
Trainer: Hugo Palmer – Jockey: James Doyle
I liked the way HACKMAN shaped on his Newmarket introduction in which the son of Mehmas finished third to Blue Storm. He’s not in the best part of the gate, but can go forward to stave off the challenge of She’s Smart to post a popular local triumph for the Palmer stable.
HUNTINGDON
Race 2 No2 PARC D’AMOUR (Nap)
Trainer: Kim Bailey – Jockey: Ciaran Gethings
PARC D’AMOUR stands out as the best bet on this card following his fine effort at Warwick. Too keen for his own good on that first run from a break, he travelled best for most of the journey and if settling with the addition of a hood today should make no mistake.
Race 5 No2 ISSAR D’AIRY
Trainer: Gary Moore – Jockey: Niall Houlihan
ISSAR D’AIRY was a cosy scorer over this course and distance last month to make it two successes and a second from four outings this year. This strong traveller has the wherewithal to add to his laurels in the hands of a conditional who is good value for his claim.
SOUTHWELL
Race 1 No4 YORKSHIRE (Nap)
Trainer: Ed Bethell – Jockey: Callus Rodriguez
YORKSHIRE just prevailed here when beating a good horse in Ferrous which was a cracking first run back by the Harry Angel colt. As the most lightly-raced in this tough three-year-old only handicap he’s the one with most room for improvement and can complete a fine hat-trick.
Race 5 No5 BLAZING SON
Trainer: Bryan Smart – Jockey: Mark Winn
BLAZING SUN did us a good turn when scoring under this jockey at Newcastle to make it three wins from his last four outings, and a record of two from three on the Tapeta surface. The chestnut hails from a yard that excels with sprinters, and can continue his progression with another conversion.
THIRSK
Race 1 No1 OH SO CHARMING (Nap)
Trainer: Grant Tuer – Jockey: Sam James
OH SO CHARMING was hugely impressive in opening his account at Redcar last autumn and having done well for his winter break can take this novice on the way to better things.
Race 3 No5 LEAP DAY
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: David Allan
LEAP DAY stayed on to claim his second cheque in as many starts at Doncaster in what was probably a better race than this. He’s now fully tuned and looks the one to beat.
Race 5 No4 INDIAN CREAK
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Connor Beasley
Soft ground specialist INDIAN CREAK was on his favourite terrain when bolting up at Windsor and looks good value for his 5lb penalty with Beasley in the irons for the first time.
CHELMSFORD CITY
Race 5 No5 SIR RAJ ( Nap)
Trainer: Hugo Palmer – Jockey: Harry Davies
SIR RAJ is less experienced than market rival Tempered Soul but is reported to have done well since his pleasing Nottingham introduction and can have the edge in a strictly two horse war.
