Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Friday’s racing coming your way from Brighton, Musselburgh, Thirsk, Haydock Park and Newmarket on 11 August 2023.
BRIGHTON
Race 1 No10 MR PC (Each Way)
Trainer: Tony Carroll – Jockey: Millie Wonnacott
Carroll has been on the mark already here this week and in MR PC has a horse that can outrun his fancy odds. The five-year-old likes to get on with things and is well treated on the best of his form. He can hit the board at a tasty double- figure price.
MUSSELBURGH
Race 2 No4 GOOD POINT (Nap)
Trainer: Bryan Smart – Jockey: Paul Mulrennan
Considering he was giving 5lb to a more experienced female foe, GOOD POINT ran a belter when second to Lady Pink Rose on debut at Beverley. His conqueror had finished a very respectable seventh in the Queen Mary and granted that was the selection’s second outing he should now be fine-tuned to deliver.
Race 6 No4 WAR DEFENDER (Each Way)
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: David Allan
WAR DEFENDER hails from a stable whose handicappers are really getting their acts together during the mid-summer spell. In his own way he’s shown by troubling the judge on his last two starts that he’s on the brink of a return the winner’s circle. Interestingly all three of his career successes have happened on the all-weather, but he enjoys the turf and a success today would certainly not be out of turn.
THIRSK
Race 6 No2 HEADABOVETHEREST (Nap)
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: Sean Kirrane
HEADABOVETHEREST encountered interference at the start on his latest outing at Newcastle which almost certainly cost him the race. A so-called winner without a penalty, he put in a seasonal best that day, and if turning up in similar mood will prove a threat to the best of these.
HAYDOCK PARK
Race 2 No1 AGE OF TIME (Nap)
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: James Doyle
Several in this fascinating novice have proven form on the track already, but I doubt they will be able to cope with much-vaunted newcomer AGE OF TIME. Godolphin have fielded some of the best of their juvenile crops here over the years, and Age Of Time can prove a case in point. The son of Dubawi cost 800,000 euros and after some eye taking work in Newmarket can make an immediate impact.
Race 4 No8 REMAADD (Each Way)
Trainer: William Haggas – Jockey: Tom Marquand
REMAADD lacks the benefit of a run but if there’s any support for the son of Gleneagles it might to worth following. Haggas also likes to bring his better two-year-olds to this track and if previous winner Alshinfarah fluffs his lines this is well and truly up for grabs, and for Remaadd to take advantage of.
Race 5 No7 SOVEREIGN QUEEN (Each Way)
Trainer: Kevin Ryan – Jockey: Andrea Atzeni
I sense a newcomer might also prevail in this fillies’ maiden. Surging Tide catches the eye for the Johnstons and is a beautifully-bred individual while Sphinx Of Naxos is by Too Darn Hot out of a mare by sought-after sire Intello. Her trainer doesn’t make a habit of winning with them first time so the one I prefer is SOVEREIGN QUEEN, whose handler has provided a couple of lovely first time winners for us here already this summer. She’s by Ten Sovereigns who was fast, and an especially good two-year-old.
NEWMARKET
Race 1 No1 BLUE COLLAR (Nap)
Trainer: Richard Hannon – Jockey: Pat Dobbs
BLUE COLLAR hasn’t been far off the money in races at Sandown and Newbury won by Classic-quoted colts Starfore and Warm Spell. He’s up against a much-vaunted newcomer in Qirat, but his experience can prove a trump card should the latter run green.
Race 3 No8 NEW CHELSEA (Each Way)
Trainer: Ralph Beckett – Jockey: Ron Hornby
NEW CHELSEA might prove a value option to Godolphin’s Broadway Act in this first division of the ‘newcomers’ maiden. The son of New Bay has shown promise at home, and while certain to exude signs of inexperience that’s true of everything in the field of raw debutants.
Race 6 No8 ASTRAL SPIRIT (Each Way)
Trainer: Pam Sly – Jockey: Rob Hornby
ASTRAL SPIRIT enters life in handicaps competing off a fair mark based on her consistency, as well as room for progression. The Charm Spirit filly put in her best effort when chasing home Prisha at Yarmouth, having previously occupied the same placing in a hood at Nottingham.
Place Accumulator Perm (Races 1-7)
1, 10, 7 x 6 x 8, 3, 1 x 6, 9 x 2, 9, 10 x 8, 1 x 6, 11
R216
