Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Friday’s racing coming your way from Nottingham, Wolverhampton, Newbury, Hamilton Park, and Newmarket on 17 July 2026
NOTTINGHAM
Race 1 a No1 HAUTELUCE (Nap)
Trainer: Ed Walker – Jockey: Ashley Lewis
On just a second start, and first of 2026, HAUTELUCE opened her account at Wolverhampton. She quickened impressively when given the office and the form has been franked, making her a tempting prospect for this first run in a handicap.
Race 3 No4 REGALLY BLONDE
Trainer: Ben Case – Jockey: Harry Davies
REGALLY BLONDE troubled the judge for the first time in four starts this season at this track and is going to enjoy stretching out on the distance ladder as a value play on a tricky card for wagering.
WOLVERHAMPTON
Race 3 No9 KORBUT (Nap)
Trainer: Sir Mark Prescott – Jockey: Dylan Hogan
Study Of Man filly KORBUT enjoys the luxury of the rail in this maiden round a lap of Dunstall Park. She’s gone close on three of her five outings and deserves a change of luck for a stable that excels with its mid summer runners here.
Race 7 No4 APPLESANDPEARS
Trainer: Ed Bethell – Jockey: Rob Hornby
An an open affair APPLESANDPEARS could be the answer. The Havana Gold filly was far from disgraced in Listed company on her latest outing at Carlisle while she will relish the return to Tapeta, on which she is unbeaten in two attempts.
NEWBURY
Race 3 No1 A BEAR AFFAIR (Each Way)
Trainer: Richard Hannon – Jockey: Sean Levey
Hannon thought A BEAR AFFAIR might be Group class after his Brocklesby triumph on the first day of the season. He’s not quite lived up to that billing, but when a close second in a Listed at Sandown indicated he can soon get back to winning ways. This is an equally stiff task, but he can prove equal to it.
Race 6 No4 TURTY TREE (Nap)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
TURTY TREE enjoys a healthy weight allowance from the two horses closest to him in the betting. That tips the scales in favour of the Park House favourite who under the champion jockey can follow-up his Sandown success of last month.
HAMILTON PARK
Race 1 No2 NIGHTSINWHITESATIN (Nap)
Trainer: Ed Bethell – Jockey: Cian Horgan
Tactics are going to play a big part in the outcome of this three cornered contest, with NIGHTSINWHITESATIN at the pick. The grey has been beaten as favourite on three of her four races in 2026 but can now recoup a large chunk of those losses.
Race 4 No1 FERROUS (Each Way)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Callum Rodriguez
There’s little doubt that FERROUS operates better on sand but in this open affair the grey needs to be taken seriously. He wasn’t at his best when beating fewer home than beat him in the Group 3 Chipchase at Newcastle but that was his first start in almost three months, and being a gross individual he probably needed it.
PONTEFRACT
Race 3 No1 BADRI (Nap)
Trainer: Michael Herrington – Jockey: Conor Whiteley
Although he’s taken a hike in the ratings BADRI is strongly fancied to make this a fourth win from his last five outings. He has an affinity for this course and can make it a hat-trick of successes here, under an apprentice who gets on well with him.
Race 6 No3 MOUNT KING (Each Way)
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: David Allan
MOUNT KING has been hovering close to a return to winnng ways which is well overdue. The strong traveller has slipped to a tempting mark, and if enjoying the rub of the green can make this a belated first success of the season.
NEWMARKET
Race 1 No2 GRACEFUL SONG
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: Billy Loughnane
Appleby fields two in this fillies’ novice with GRACEFUL SONG taken to outpoint GRACIOUS GIFT. Both are by Dubawi, and while either can win on debut the first named filly has been working especially well and gets the assistance of title contender Loughnane in her saddle.
Race 3 No4 COUNTER INTUITIVE (Nap)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Billy Loughnane
Loughnane has a very strong book of rides and on COUNTER INTUITIVE can plunder this stayers’ handicap over 2000 metres. The daughter of Frankel opened her account under a positive ride at Thirsk and could again get her own way in a race that has cut up.
Race 6 No6 POWDERING
Trainer: Michael Herrington – Jockey: Billy Loughnane
Herrington is enjoying a purple patch, to which POWDERING has been a recent contributor. The mare was well ridden to strike over this course and distance at the end of last month. She’s up in the weights but has more to recommend her than the majority of her foes.
