Neil Morrice best bets and tips – Saturday, 26 September 2026

NEWMARKET

Race 2 TATTERSALLS ONLINE ROYAL LODGE STAKES (Group 2)

No6 QUICKEN AWAY
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Oisin Murphy

An exceptional day’s racing sees an expected high quality field for this traditional trial for the 2027 Classics, and a race won by Bow Echo 12 months ago. Godolphin’s juveniles need respecting in all Pattern races and an improved showing from QUEST FOR STARS would no surprise.

He lost his unbeaten record at Leopardstown but if the terrain on the Rowley course suits front runners he could finish in front of his shorter prices stablemate FIRST LAW who overcame greenness to take out a Listed race at Haydock last time.

Aidan O’Brien’s HAFFNER needs to bounce back from a heavy defeat at the Curragh leaving QUICKEN AWAY as the probable answer. The son of Frankel resides at the top of the pecking order of juvenile colts at Park House Stables and should enjoy stepping up the ladder following a tidy first career win at Goodwood. He has a smart turn of foot which can,prove decisive up the rising ground.

Prediction: 1st QUICKEN AWAY, 2nd Quest For Stars, 3rd First Law, 4th HAFFNER

Race 3 TATTERSALLS SCEPTRE CHEVELEY PARK STAKES (Group 1)

No4 SENORITA BONITA (Nap)
Trainer: Simon Crisford – Jockey: Oisin Murphy

This has been labelled as the fillies’ race of the season and it’s easy to see why. Dual Group 1 winner SUN GODDESS hasn’t looked back since being outpointed by LIBERTANGO at Royal Ascot, crushing her foes in a Sales race at York and then powering to a seven lengths triumph over Green Empress in the Moyglare Stakes at the Curragh.

LIBERTANGO avenged a defeat by SENORITA BONITA at the July meeting here by landing the Group 2 Lowther Stakes at York, but I’m struggling to see her overturning the Duchess Of Cambridge form.

SENORITA BONITA then blew away her foes in the Group 1 Prix Morny at Deauville under a canny ride from the champion jockey. She appears to have everything you look for in a future Classic winner and in an exceptional renewal she can swoop to conquer, and is napped.

Prediction: 1st SENORITA BONITA, 2nd Sun Goddess, 3rd Libertango

Race 4 TATTERSALLS MIDDLE PARK STAKES (Group 1)

No4 INNER CITY BLUES
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: William Buick

With Royal Ascot winner ORTHODOX out to show his defeat in the Prix Morny to be all wrong, we have an intriguing puzzle for this historic 1200 metres contest. Senorita Bonita will provide a line into the Deauville form in the previous race but regardless of how that pans out INNER CITY BLUES is surely the one to beat. Godolphin’s unbeaten son of Blue Point bossed the Group 2 July Stakes, having greatly impressed on his Haydock introduction and looks the type for whom a trip to the Breeders’ Cup could come under consideration after this. Round Tower Stakes winner PUSH THE BOAT OUT is harder to weigh up as he’s also unbeaten, and hails from a yard that does well with its runners outside Ireland.

Prediction: 1st INNER CITY BLUES, 2nd Push The Boat Out, 3rd Orthodox

Race 5 BET365 CAMBRIDGESHIRE HANDICAP

No12 CREST OF FIRE (Each Way)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Tom Marquand

Channon made the perfect start to the campaign when landing the Lincoln with URBAN LION who ran well from a poor draw in this race in 2025, and having dropped to a workable mark is definitely over priced. The West Ilsley handler has been going through a sticky patch but his other acceptor CREST OF FIRE possesses the capability to pull him out of it. The grey engaged in a Houdini act to escape from traffic problems and score at the Qatar Goodwood Festival, and though slightly out of his depth in Windsor’s Winter Hill Stakes was only seven lengths off the winner Maho Bay. Importantly, this has always been the end of season target for this progressive individual.

GAVRIEL has been supported into favouritism which is not surprising granted his high profile CV and the way he put his first handicap assignment to bed at Ascot. In the colours of American George Strawbridge the son of Frankel has to be considered. BOURBON BLUES represents a stable doing well with its late summer runners and enters calculations following a seasonal best effort to score at Doncaster. He’s 4lb higher for that head triumph but will get a stronger pace to aim at today. Near the end of a carefully plotted 2026 campaign HAND OF GOD is also a name to conjure with and should go well. Harry Charlton’s chestnut was only six lengths behind Wimbledon Hawkeye in a Deauville Group 3 last time with the winner going on to be controversially denied in the Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes. It adds up to make him a danger to all.

Prediction: 1st CREST OF FIRE, 2nd Hand Of God, 3rd Gavriel, 4th Urban Lion

Race 7 No6 THE FINGAL RAVEN (Each Way)
Trainer: Jamie Osborne – Jockey: Saffie Osborne

THE FINGAL RAVEN carried my money at Newbury last weekend where he took a worrying late walk in the market. He didn’t know that, and for much of the contest looked sure to take a hand as he moved up menacingly. After briefly hitting the front he appeared to hit a wall however, though in finishing seventh was beaten a total of just two lengths. In today’s nightcap Saffie Osborne can get the best out this well handicapper performer by hanging onto him for as long as possible.

HAYDOCK PARK

Race 1 No4 GODWINSON (Each Way)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: David Probert

Channon has done well with the horses owned by Jon and Julia Aisbitt that have joined him for a change of scenery, in particular Johan. In GODWINSON he has under his wing a similar entity, and one that ran better than its eventual finishing position indicates at Goodwood last time. He’s more than capable of bouncing back from that.

Race 4 No8 BLUE PRINCE (Each Way)
Trainer: David Evans – Jockey: Pat Cosgrave

BLUE PRINCE is a regular earner and a credit to his trainer. He needs holding up off the pace and has conditions in his favour for another podium finish, accepting that this is a warm heat.

Race 6 No4 IMPASTO (Nap)
Trainer: Andrew Baldng – Jockey: PJ McDonald

IMPASTO proved easy to back but nevertheless made an eye taking first visit to the track when second at Ascot. The Palace Pier colt has learned plenty from it, and over a slightly longer trip can open his account.