Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Thursday’s racing coming your way from Day 2 of the York Ebor Festival, Stratford, Chepstow, Fontwell Park and Chelmsford City on 24 August 2023.
YORK EBOR FESTIVAL DAY 2
Race 1 SKY BET LOWTHER STAKES (Group 2)
No7 RELIEF RALLY
Trainer: William Haggas – Jockey: Tom Marquand
I doubt this excellent starter on Day 2 will unveil a potential Guineas winner as the majority of the field are speedily bred. FLORA OF BERMUDA raised her game to come home unchallenged in a conditions race at Goodwood and should play a big part while Aidan O’Brien’s CHERRY BLOSSOM also needs respecting after her wide margin triumph at the Curragh. However, the Queen Mary second of RELIEF RALLY and her subsequent Super Sprint victory tip the scales in her favour. The daughter of Kodiac produced a telling change of gear to get the job done at Newbury and can use that weapon to tilt the scales in her favour at the finish.
Race 2 No19 ZIGGY’S CONDOR (Each Way)
Trainer: Richard Fahey – Jockey: Oisin Orr
In an engaging Sales race ZIGGY’S CONDOR can strike a blow for the North. Representing emergent sire Havana Grey the once-raced colt can back up his impressive Pontefract success on the way to better things. In what is a good race for exotic wagering WE NEVER STOP, PERSICA and TWILIGHT ROMANCE should also be factored into the equation.
Race 3 No3 SONNY LISTON ( Each Way)
Trainer: Ralph Beckett – Jockey: Ryan Moore
AKHU NAJLA heads the Hollywoodbets market on this betting extravaganza of the day on just a sixth career start for Roger Varian. Early last year he looked like he could be a bit special, only for training issues to hinder his progress. But he ran well on his first handicap assignment last month to suggest he’s retained a fair amount of his old ability. DUTCH DECOY, DARKNESS and SONNY LISTON occupied three of the first five places in the ultra competitive Golden Mile at Goodwood and are carded for similarly forward showings in this race round a gradual bend into the long home straight. The former hasn’t been lucky with the draw but Darkness looks to have a perfect pitch five off the fence. Sonny Liston might have won the Hunt Cup as he was the clear ‘winner’ but in the wrong group in that Royal Ascot contest. At the bottom of the weights it would be interesting if money came for the lightly-raced TERWADA, and another that could get into the shake-up if on a going day is the inconsistent but well handicapped CRUYFF TURN. However the main pick for me is NORTHERN EXPRESS, whose been a model of consistency racing over seven furlongs and a mile this year. He claimed his latest cheque when fourth in the International atAscot on King George day, and his canny trainer may experiment with him by heading for the six furlongs Ayr Gold Cup after today.
Prediction: 1st NORTHERN EXPRESS, 2nd Darkness, 3rd Sonny Liston, 4th Akhu Najla, 5th Dutch Decoy, 6th Terwada, 7th Cruyff Turn
Race 4 PERTEMPS NETWORK YORKSHIRE OAKS (Group 1)
No7 BLUESTOCKING (Nap)
Trainer: Ralph Beckett – Jockey: Rossa Ryan
In a rematch from their clash in the Irish Oaks BLUESTOCKING can take revenge on Savethelastdance. The first-named filly, an impressive individual by Camelot, looked to have the Curragh Classic in the bag until Ryan Moore conjured an unexpected spurt from Savethelastdance which carried her to the front just 50 yards out. The drying underfoot conditions should suit my selection and not help her rival, who relished the cut in the ground when coming home alone in the Cheshire Oaks and didn’t appear happy on the Epsom track when thwarted in the Oaks. AL HUSN was a game winner of the Group 1 Nassau Stakes at Goodwood but has to concede 9lb to the three-year-olds and the one that could pep up exotic pay outs is STAY ALERT. She has something to find on the book, but her trainer is a dab hand at pulling something out of the fire with a filly of this ilk, and it would be a mistake to write her out of the script.
Prediction: 1st BLUESTOCKING, 2nd Stay Alert, 3rd Savethelastdance, 4th Al Husn
Race 6 No17 BLUE COLLAR (Each Way)
Trainer: Richard Hannon – Jockey: Andrew Atzeni
This seven furlong nursery presents bettors with a near impossible task if they are looking to jump out of financial jail. However, the Richard Hannon-trained BLUE COLLAR is one that takes my eye and is a double-figure price with Hollywoodbets. The Starspangledbanner colt ran in a couple of good novices and then claimed a minor cheque in a third at Newmarket in order to obtain a mark. Under soon to depart (for Hong Kong) Andrea Atzeni he’s potentially well treated at the base of the weights and from a good draw in a middle gate he can get into the argument.
STRATFORD
Race 5 No2 LADY GWEN (Nap)
Trainer: Kim Bailey – Jockey: David Bass
Race 6 No2 CALL OF THE LOON
Trainer: Christian Williams – Jockey: Nick Schofield
CHEPSTOW
Race 1 No3 ON EDGE
Trainer: C Mason – Jockey: Gina Mangan
ON EDGE seems to reserve his best efforts for this course, and following a success and a third on his latest visits can make it a third career success here under a rider that gets on well with him.
Race 3 No7 LAHAB
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Hollie Doyle
Doyle’s booking for the lightly-raced LAHAB takes my eye in this maiden. The son of U S Navy Flag claimed a minor cheque behind the useful Measured Time at Kempton and won’t mind switching back to turf, on which he finished a creditable third on his Newbury introduction last year.
Race 5 No4 OBAMA ARMY (Nap)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: George Bass
OBAMA ARMY arrived pulling the proverbial bus at Ffos Las last week, and even though his pilot waited as long as he dare to give the gelding his head they were nabbed in the final strides by Eaton College who was repeating a feat he’d accomplished on an earlier meeting with my selection in July. Obama Army seems happy to train himself on the track, and in a race that has a pace angle he can go one better.
FONTWELL PARK
Race 2 No8 GEARING’S POINT (Each Way)
Trainer: Sheena West – Jockey: Niall Houlihan
West has a fine record with horses sourced from the Channon yard and especially those that go jumping. That’s why GEARING’S POINT is worth backing to make a mark on her hurdling bow in this maiden. A four times winner on the Flat this year, she’s schooled well at home.
CHELMSFORD CITY
Race 5 No2 GEELONG (Each Way)
Trainer: Paul Cole – Jockey: David Probert
The ultra consistent GEELONG could finally open his account for 2023 in this stayers’ handicap. Breaking from the rail, he needs to obtain a handy position. After carding figures of 263432 he would be a deserving winner.
Jackpot Perm (Races 3-6)
5, 2, 1 x 8, 4, 3 x 2, 6, 10, 8 x 6, 9, 12
R108
