Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing coming your way from Newbury, Ayr, Bangor-On-Dee, Thirsk, and Nottingham on 22 April 2023.
NEWBURY
Race 1 Dubai Duty-Free Finest Surprise Stakes (Group 3)
No7 MOJO STAR
Trainer: Richard Hannon – Jockey: Kevin Stott
Godolphin’s Hurricane Lane has every right to start this fascinating opener at restrictive odds, but anything can happen when a horse makes its seasonal return and for value I shall back MOJO STAR to turn the tables on the favourite from their 1-2 finish in the St Leger of 2021. Since then both have had interrupted campaigns, with the selection chasing home Kyprios on his only start in the Gold Cup last year. He swerved a good opportunity at Nottingham to wait for this, and the bold placing of his trainer can pay off, even though this trip is shorter than ideal.
Race 2 Dubai Duty-Free Stakes (Group 3)
No7 MAGICAL SUNSET
Trainer: Richard Hannon – Jockey: Kevin Stott
This trial for the 1,000 Guineas can see the Hannons again in the spotlight with MAGICAL SUNSET. It’s a more open renewal than we’ve had for a few years, but this Kodiac filly ended 2021 on an upward curve with success here in a Listed race run on heavy ground. She readily put daylight between herself and FULLY WET that day, and can confirm the placings with her foe.
BRIDESTONES impressed on her only start in a Yarmouth novice in the autumn and has to be respected coming back for John Gosden. The daughter of Teofilo goes into the mix, as does SWINGALONG whose trainer Karl Burke lifted Thursday’s Craven Stakes and has his three-year-olds in very good order.
Prediction: 1st MAGICAL SUNSET, 2nd Swingalong, 3rd Fully Wet, 4th Bridestones
Race 3 Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes (Group 3)
No1 CHALDEAN (Nap)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Frankie Dettori
Dettori was booked for CHALDEAN in this race several weeks ago and if the Frankel colt upholds last season’s impressive form he will take the spoils and reinforce his place towards the forefront of the 2,000 Guineas market. He completed a superb four-timer and Pattern race hat-trick when gamely holding Royal Scotsman in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket, and meets his rivals at level weights today.
Horris Hill Stakes victor KNIGHT clearly likes this track and could encounter favourable cut in the ground while CHARYN ended last season with a Group 2 triumph in France, and is another for whom rain would assist.
Prediction: 1st CHALDEAN, 2nd Charyn, 3rd Knight
Race 4 No12 LATTAM
Trainer: William Haggas – Jockey: Tom Marquand
LATTAM is a relatively unexposed individual with few miles on his racing clock including three wins in only five career starts. The latest of those happened in the Irish Lincolnshire, and if turning up in the same kind of form he should get into the shake-up. Jimi Hendrix was soon a spent force in the Lincoln at Doncaster but if that’s done him good he’s the type that could post a frame finish.
Brunch takes the eye following his promising effort in a Listed race on Town Moor and this six-year-old will appreciate the forecast weekend rain. Hat-trick seeker Alrehb needs respecting even though higher in the weights, while accepting that he concedes both weight and age to his opponents, Bless Him can’t be ruled out, with Jamie Spencer sure to deliver the gelding fast and late.
Prediction: 1st LATTAM, 2nd Bless Him, 3rd Brunch, 4th Jimi Hendrix
Race 7 No17 C’MON KENNY (Each Way)
Trainer: Ian Williams – Jockey: Clifford Lee
C’MON KENNY is just the type of unexposed individual Williams excels with and should be closely monitored for a market move. The grey only made it to the track on one occasion last year but that resulted in a cracking run at Wolverhampton. If his training issues are now behind him he can cash in from what could well be a handy mark.
AYR
Race 2 No3 SAIL AWAY (Nap)
Trainer: Dan Skelton – Jockey: Bridget Andrews
If there’s one that could find extra in this competitive handicap chase then SAIL AWAY fits the bill. The grey has been trained with a spring campaign in mind, while this is just his fourth outing of the campaign in which he won at Warwick and placed in good races at Aintree and Chepstow. Furthermore he could benefit from having the assistance of Andrews for the first time.
Race 3 Coral Scottish Champion Hurdle (Grade 2)
No7 NEMEAN LION (Each Way)
Trainer: Kerry Lee – Jockey: Richard Patrick
Novices have a good record in this cracking race, and NEMEAN LION is a big eye taker after skipping the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals. His best form both on the Flat in France and over jumps is on good ground, and underfoot conditions should prove perfect for him.
However a saver is very much recommended on COLONEL MUSTARD, who got within three lengths of State Man in last season’s County Hurdle and although not winning hasn’t done much wrong since, including when chasing home Benson in Kelso’s Morebattle Hurdle.
Race 5 CORAL SCOTTISH GRAND NATIONAL HANDICAP CHASE
No17 YOUR OWN STORY (Each Way)
Trainer: Lucinda Russell – Jockey: Derek Fox
Taking stock of the fact that this is a very deep race, it would not come as a surprise to see lightning strike twice with Russell and Fox following-up last weekend’s Grand National triumph with Coragh Rambler in the shape of the wonderfully consistent YOUR OWN STORY. The seven-year-old is yet to win at this course, but it’s interesting his sole success this season came when he encountered a marathon distance at Wetherby.
Eider Chase hero KITTY’S LIGHT chased home stablemate Win My Wings in this 12 months ago and will be doing his best work when plenty have cried enough. However, he is plenty short enough and for value both FAMOUS BRIDGE and UNDERSUPERVISION should also be considered. Famous Bridge has really got his act together with successive triumphs at Wetherby, where the fences take some jumping, and as this is just the Nicky Richards-trained gelding’s fifth run in a chase there could easily be more to come from him.
Undersupervision is a good operator in the spring and looks to have been laid out for this by Nigel Twiston-Davies. He trialled well for it when just outgunned by Moroderin the Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster, and journeys to Scotland fresher than most.
Prediction: 1st YOUR OWN STORY, 2nd Famous Bridge, 3rd Kitty’s Light, 4th Undersupervision
BANGOR-ON-DEE
Race 3 No3 VANDEMERE (Nap)
Trainer: John Quinn – Jockey: Craig Nichol
VANDEMERE is the least exposed hurdler in this competitive heat and goes into battle on handicap debut on only a third run. The former Irish pointer earned in novice and maiden company at Newcastle and Hexham, and is a rare runner at this track for his trainer.
Race 7 No1 JOSH THE BOSS
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Mr Jamie Nield
JOSH THE BOSS takes a 7lb penalty into the concluding bumper following a 33-1 upset at Kempton. The American-bred gelding has worked well subsequently and can show by following up that it was no fluke.
BRIGHTON
Race 5 No2 JUNOESQUE (Each Way)
Trainer: John Gallagher – Jockey: Kaiya Fraser
Course specialist JUNOESQUE is a go-to horse on this first outing of the 2023 season. His front-running tactics rarely fail to keep him in the money, and although he usually needs a run to sharpen him up he can buck that trend by taking home a cheque here.
Race 6 No1 SLY MADAM (Nap)
Trainer: Sheena West – Jockey: William Carver
SLY MADAM scooted clear of her rivals at Windsor and Monday and is out for further pickings under a 5lb penalty. She is clearly in good heart, and can make it a third success at this switchback course.
THIRSK
Race 1 No4 SERGEANT WILKO (Nap)
Trainer: Kevin Ryan – Jockey: Tom Eaves
Amo Racing are sweeping the boards with their juveniles and Valadero will be a popular order after his pleasing first offering, but equally beguiling is SERGEANT WILKO, who himself ran a cracker in defeat on his Musselburgh debut and will be a bigger price.
Race 4 No8 HEATHEN
Trainer: Ed Dunlop – Jockey: Jason Watson
HEATHEN started this year where he left off 2022 with another all-weather success at Wolverhampton. If he can transmit the same level,of ability to turf he can comp,eye a fine hat-trick in this interesting contest.
Race 7 No1 SOCIETY LION (Each Way)
Trainer: Ed Dunlop – Jockey: Hollie Doyle
SOCIETY LION might be difficult to beat from the number one stall in this sprint handicap, having benefitted from a pleasing first run of the campaign when third at Chelmsford City.
NOTTINGHAM
Race 5 No3 NADER KING (Nap)
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Richard Kingscote
NADER KING hails from a stable that saddled three winners earlier in the week. In the silks of Derby hero Desert Crown he can progress from a good run in defeat at this track last autumn to open his account.
