Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Friday’s racing coming your way from Newmarket, York, Chepstow, and Kempton Park.
NEWMARKET
Race 2 GODOLPHIN LIFETIME OH SO SHARP STAKES (Group 3)
No9 MISS KODI (Each Way)
Trainer: Clive Cox – Jockey: Rossa Ryan
A race that remembers the last filly to complete the Triple Crown can see MISS KODI raising her game. In this wide open affair Clive Cox’s candidate can show her underwhelming run in the Dick Poole Stakes to be all wrong. She never really threatened to take a hand that day, but a repeat of her previous effort when fourth in the Group 2 Lowther at York would put her right into the shake-up, and in reflection Salisbury might have come a bit too soon for her. NUIT D’ECLAIR also brings solid credentials to the table and should be involved, while TOPAZ appeals as a roughie with progression in her.
Race 3 THOROUGHBRED INDUSTRY EMPLOYEE AWARDS CHALLENGE STAKES (Group 2)
No5 FLORA OF BERMUDA
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: James Doyle
It’s not the hottest renewal of this race but FLORA OF BERMUDA won’t mind that as she comes out as the likely winner on the evidence of the form book. A three times scorer from six starts in what has been an outstanding season for her trainer, she looked for a few strides to be home for all money in the Group 2 Park Stakes at Doncaster, only to be run down by More Thunder in the final strides. Her overall package far outweighs the likes of NEVER SO BRAVE and TIME FOR TURN who should be playing for minor money.
Race 4 BET365 FILLIES’ MILE (Group 1)
No6 MUSICAL TIMES
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: William Buick
The outstanding filly on duty this weekend, MUSICAL TIMES will go off at prohibitive odds to remain unbeaten in this notable Group 1 trial for next year’s Classics. The daughter of Lope De Vega has justified solid support on each of her three outings, culminating in a hugely impressive triumph in the May Hill (Group 2) at Doncaster. Another success on this second visit to HQ should see her price further shorten for the 2027 1000 Guineas.
Race 5 No1 ARCHERS BAY ( Each Way)
Trainer: Marco Botti – Jockey: Ryan Moore
Botti is doing a good job with his management of ARCHERS BAY, who is a three times winner for his Italian trainer and ran a cracker to get within a length of the highly rated Fortitudine in a Listed race at the Cambridgeshire meeting last month. The pair finished more than six lengths clear and Archers Bay, who was earlier successful at the Shergar Cup, should be happier in this bigger field. Under Ryan Moore he can take the spoils from DECADE OF TIME, who is a similarly consistent performer and should again get into the shake-up.
Race 6 No2 FORTY YEARS ON (Nap)
Trainer: George Scott – Jockey: William Buick
I thought FORTY YEARS ON was a good thing for the Sceptre Stakes at Doncaster and refuse to take her defeat on Town Moor at face value. A lot had been made of her requirement for cut in the ground, but though the going was nearer to what it will be today, her positioning towards the far side of those in the firing line wasn’t ideal. Furthermore she came from quite a long way back.
George Scott believes his filly is a Group horse and if that’s the case she can bounce back to take out this Listed race at the main expense of THE PRETTIEST STAR, with whom she has three quarters of a length to find from the Sceptre.
YORK
Race 1 No14 POINT OF CONTACT (Each Way)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Callum Hutchinson
While a high draw could inconvenience NORTHERN EXPRESS that’s not the case with POINT OF CONTACT who got going when it was too late at Yarmouth and will relish any more rain. BEAGLE BAY returns from a break as a hugely unexposed and dangerous foe, but that’s reflected in his price which looks short enough. NIKOVO is another favourite of mine who can’t be ruled out and my inclination is to box all four of the horses mentioned above in exactas and trifectas.
Race 6 No1 TOCA MADERA (Nap)
Trainer: David O’Meara – Jockey: Danny Tudhope
TOCA MADERA had run well in several hot handicaps at Grade 1 courses before gaining a deserved success in a smaller field at Beverley. He’s back in an 18 runner contest but it’s one not many can win, which points to the top weight putting in another good show.
Race 7 No7 QUEST FOR FUN (Each Way)
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: Jake Dickson
In five visits to the Knavesmire in 2026 QUEST FOR FUN has troubled the judge on three occasions and been a tad unlucky not to win. With his solid record in 1400 metres handicaps together with a capable apprentice in his saddle, the eight-year-old should again get into the shake-up.
CHEPSTOW
Race 4 No6 CAPTAIN HUGO (Nap)
Trainer: Philip Hobbs- Jockey: Sean Houlihan
The featured Welsh Champion Hurdle has attracted a bumper field of 17, making it one of the best betting contests of the day. DOCTOR BLUE represents connections that enjoyed success in the race when it was run at Ffos Las and has to be taken seriously granted he’s back from a breathing operation as well as wearing first time cheek pieces. However, from a stable that’s scored with its first runner of the new season CAPTAIN HUGO is just preferred. In a select campaign he was only narrowly denied when last seen in the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr. He’s won in the heavy but acts just as well on this better ground.
Race 5 No6 LOCK STOCK (Each Way)
Trainer: Stuart Edmunds – Jockey: Charlie Hammond
This marks a step up the ranks for LOCK STOCK but the six-year-old could be equal to the task. He’s put in a couple of dominating performances since joining his trainer and was impressive in making all to come home unchallenged at Worcester.
KEMPTON PARK
Race 5 No6 KINETIC IMPACT (Nap)
Trainer: Charlie Hills – Jockey: Callum Shepherd
KINETIC IMPACT met some smart opponents when third of four in a Salisbury maiden in which he started 13-8. By leading he was there to be shot at, and if different tactics are employed he can cause problems to paper favourite SIN CITY.
Race 8 No5 MOUNTBATTEN
Trainer: Sir Mark Prescott – Jockey: Jack Gilligan
MOUNTBATTEN fluffed his lines when odds on for his latest start at Lingfield but the lightly-raced individual can bounce back to stem the winning streak of MEET ME IN MERAKI, with that rival filling the flip side of the exacta.
