Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Thursday’s racing coming your way from Lingfield Park, Ayr, Redcar, Chelmsford City and Doncaster on 2 May 2024.
LINGFIELD PARK
Race 2 No8 MOUNT MOGAN (Each Way)
Trainer: Laura Mongan – Jockey: Luke Morris
From a favourable draw, it will benefit MOUNT MOGAN if he’s ridden aggressively. He did it from the front when scoring at this course last November and was unlucky in running when returning here in March. A line needs to be drawn through his latest underwhelming run and he’s capable of earning at big double figure odds.
Race 6 No1 PLATINUM PRINCE (Nap)
Trainer: Gary Moore – Jockey: Anna Gibson
PLATINUM PRINCE hasn’t won for a year and a half but hinted with a near miss at Chelmsford four weeks ago that he’s ready to end that drought. Anna Gibson has won on him twice here, and was on board last time.
AYR
Race 1 No2 JUNGLE LAND (Nap)
Trainer: Karl Burke – Jockey: Danny Tudhope
I can pass on good vibes for JUNGLE LAND who being by Kodiac out of a mare by Kyllachy is bred to be quick. He’s the only debutant on the field, but should know sufficient to thwart paper favourite Moon Man.
Race 6 No2 ADRIAN (Each Way)
Trainer: Robbie Llewellyn – Jockey: Connor Beasley
ADRIAN is a speculative advice and needs to raise his game. That is possible, as the grey has kept good company in races he couldn’t win, while this sees him in calmer waters.
REDCAR
Race 1 No2 HAPPY HELEN (Each Way)
Trainer: Michael Dods – Jockey: Sean Kirrane
Golden Horn filly HAPPY HELEN put in her best of three educational runs when troubling the judge at Thirsk in August. She switches to handicaps brimming with opportunity to improve, and should make an impact for her in-form trainer.
Race 2 No10 INTERTWINED (Nap)
Trainer: Brian Meehan – Jockey: Cieren Fallon
Previous winners Diligent Resdev and Roberto Caro May struggle to fend off INTERTWINED, who can make the long journey from Manton worthwhile. The daughter of Cable Bay couldn’t hold a candle to the impressive Star Style on her only 2023 start at Newbury, but can now cash in on a handy weight concession from her penalised foes.
CHELMSFORD CITY
Race 2 No1 NIKOVO (Nap)
Trainer: David O’Meara – Jockey: Jason Watson
NIKOVO did everything right on a first outing for O’Meara when attracting support and dominating the finish of his race at Newcastle. The performance proves that a breathing operation has had the desired effect on the five-year-old, who remains well-handicapped.
Race 4 No10 TAZARA
Trainer: Christophe Ferland – Jockey: Kieran Shoemark
TAZARA hasn’t been afforded the best of draws in this Listed feature but I still fancy her to make the journey from Chantilly worthwhile. The daughter of Blue Point has twice run well on the Deauville all-weather track, and made no mistake on her first run this year when switched to grass. She has gears, and can circumnavigate her field to thwart Pandora’s Gift and Soprano.
Race 7 No6 COGSWORTH (Each Way)
Trainer: Chris Dwyer – Jockey: Silvestre De Sousa
COGSWORTH ran his best race of the year when losing out in a picture over this course and distance last month. De Sousa sticks with the Time Test gelding, who has strong claims for first-career success at the twelfth attempt.
DONCASTER
Race 3 No8 LITTLE ROSE (Nap)
Trainer: William Haggas – Jockey: Tom Marquand
LITTLE ROSE was a cosy scorer at Beverley, and the hooded filly represents good value for her winning margin in a quick reappearance under a 6lb penalty that she should shrug off and convert.
Race 5 No5 SHERMAN TANK
Trainer: David Simcock – Jockey: Jamie Spencer
Coronado King wears a hood on his introduction and my eye is drawn to the more experienced SHERMAN TANK. The Sioux Nation gelding was beaten a head into third in a blanket finish to his only start at Newcastle last November, and having developed into his frame over the winter can now open his account.
Race 7 No1 MR IRRELEVANT
Trainer: Grant Tuer – Jockey: Brandon Wilkie
MR IRRELEVANT looked to have the bases covered some way out before winning tidily at Ripon last week. There’s no surprise that he is out quickly under a 6lb penalty, and he’s strongly fancied to follow-up.
