Neil Morrice shares his best bets and tips for Friday’s racing coming your way from Meydan, Kelso, Lingfield Park and Southwell on 17 February 2023.
MEYDAN
Race 3 UAE OAKS (Group 3)
No3 AWASEF
Trainer: Doug Watson – Jockey: Sam Hitchcott
Watson fires a twin attack on this Classic, and AWASEF could prove the solution ahead of her barnmate ASAWER. The daughter of Cairo Prince has work to do with MIMI KAKUSHI on Listed race running from last month but has gone a long way forward from that. At face value she has it to do to turn the tables, but as a betting entity she makes plenty of appeal at three times the price of the favourite who was fully wound-up that day.
Prediction: 1st AWASEF, 2nd Asawer
Race 5 NAD AL SHEBA TROPHY (Group 3)
No10 SISKANY
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: William Buick
SISKANY looks the best bet in the featured races granted how impressive he was in taking out a Lusted race ove the course and distance 12 months ago. His trainer fields him alongside KEMARI who looks overpriced in the betting and could take away a cheque as an attractive exotics must include. But Siskany has the points on the board as he finished third in a Val bale handicap at Riyadh as well as winning at Listed level at Newmarket in the late summer. His latest effort when placed in a bunch finish at Kempton also reads well in the context of what it will take to prevail this afternoon.
Prediction: 1st SISKANY (Nap), 2nd Kemari
Race 6 DUBAI MILLENIUM STAKES (Group 3)
No9 OTTOMAN FLEET
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: James Doyle
Though beaten into third by stablemate Valiant Price when a strong favourite for the Group 2 Singspiel Stakes last week, OTTOMAN EMPIRE has the wherewithal to bounce back and claim the spoils at the expense of his short-priced stable companion NATIONS PRIDE. The Sea The Stars gelding met a much-improved foe on that occasion. He’s drawn alongside Nations Pride and can give his trainer a seventh success in a race that remembers Sheikh Mohammed’s favourite horse from the last eight runnings. At longer prices, WITHERING and GOOD FORTUNE appeal as tasty options for exotics.
Prediction: 1st OTTOMAN FLEET, 2nd Nations Pride, 3rd Withering, 4th Good Fortune
KELSO
Race 2 No2 RICHHILL (Nap)
Trainer: Dan Skelton – Jockey: HarrySkelton
RICHHILL needs to be taken seriously in this competitive novices’ hurdle after digging deep to open his account over jumps at Southwell. The former winning Irish pointer looks to have benefitted from a wind operation, and represents a top trainer/jockey combo that doesn’t make the long journey here for the goodness of their health.
Race 3 No2 ELVIS MAIL
Trainer: Nick Alexander – Jockey: Bruce Lynn
ELVIS MAIL can with a win in this novices’ limited handicap chase set up a good day for his connections. The grey was a triple winner over hurdles at this track, and though yet to reach the heights hoped for his as a chaser has time on his side to correct that statistic. He faces strong competition, with stablemate Dubai Days likely to pose the main threat.
Race 5 No3 NED TANNER
Trainer: Nick Alexander – Jockey: Sean Quinlan
Alexander could be on the mark again with NED TANNER, who spoiled his chance with a shoddy jumping display in a better race here last time. The seven-year-old has a good recent win to run record, and there’s every chance he will bounce back.
LINGFIELD PARK
Race 1 No10 SUZI’S CONNOISSEUR (Each Way)
Trainer: Jane Chapple-Hyam – Jockey: Tommie Jakes
Veteran SUZI’S CONNOISSEUR has a good draw from which to be competitive in this low grade handicap. The 12-year-old was only narrowly denied as a 20-1 roughie over course and distance last month, raising hopes he can soon return to winning ways.
Race 4 No2 UNFORGOTTEN (Nap)
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: Rab Havlin
UNFORGOTTEN should be a bet worth waiting for in the day’s feature. He did us a favour when successfully returning from a ten month absence over course and distance at the start of the month and should take the spoils for top connections on the way to better things.
SOUTHWELL
Race 4 No2 MIDNIGHTATTHEOASIS (Nap)
Trainer: Charlie Hills – Jockey: Kieran Shoemark
Oasis Dream colt MIDNIGHTATTHEOASIS landed some good bets that forced his price from odds against to odds-on at this track last month. He can utilise the good track craft he showed that day to make it a follow-up win on handicap debut.
Race 5 No8 MOUSH
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Connor Beasley
MOUSH didn’t manage to go forward from a couple of earning efforts on turf when making his sand debut at Kempton. The Charm Spirit colt has trained well on the all-weather at home ahead of this seasonal reappearance, and it would be no surprise to see him raise his game in a race where recent scorer Sax Appeal sets the standard for the others to aim at.
Race 6 No11 DUBAI JEANIUS
Trainer: Michael Herrington – Jockey: Tom Eaves
DUBAI JEANIUS has thrived for a step up the distance ladder, with course successes at this distance and a mile and a half. He needs to step lively in order to obtain a decent stalking position from an awkward (high) draw, but if achieving that should prove hard to beat.
