Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips from a bumper day around the UK and Ireland including racing at Doncaster, Market Rasen, Haydock Park, Ripon, Newbury and Newmarket as well as an in-depth preview of the Kerrygold Irish Oaks.
Feature Race Preview
The Curragh Race 6, Kerrygold Irish Oaks (Group 1)
While this prestigious Fillies' Group 1 doesn't obviously have a contender with the panache of last year's winner Sea Of Class, it offers up a family rivalry we are starting to see more often with Joseph O'Brien taking on his father Aidan.
IRIDESSA (Joseph) versus
PINK DOGWOOD (Aidan) is the way Hollywoodbets see it, with this pair respectively heading the market at 9-4 and 3-1.
They meet on identical terms as when clashing in the Pretty Polly Stakes here last month, and in that Group 1 over a mile and a quarter, Iridessa swept majestically clear to score by two and a quarter lengths from Magic Wand, with Pink Dogwood a further length and a quarter adrift in third.
On that evidence it appears the only factor that can halt the progress of the favourite is as follows - she's running over the Classic distance for the first time, whereas Pink Dogwood has previous experience over a mile and a half.
Having been supplemented into the race by John Gosden,
STAR CATCHER is in many ways the joker in the pack.
Frankie Dettori's mount had one of today's opponents
FLEETING a length and a half in her wake at the end of the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot and that performance stamps her a definite stayer and one that should be suited by a strong pace.
However, she needs to halt the curse of Ribblesdale winners of whom only two have prevailed in the Irish Oaks since 1994. My instinct is to throw the history book out of the window in such instances, and that Star Catcher will be a major player for her top team, as will Fleeting for Coolmore.
FLEETING started 7-4 favourite for the Ribblesdale and to her credit stayed on equally well after finishing traffic problems in the short Ascot straight. All things considered, the run brings Donnacha O'Brien's mount firmly into the equation.
A twin spearhead from the Ralph Beckett stable of
ANTONIA DE VEGA and
MANUELA DE VEGA could provoke a family feud and it is difficult to split the pair both on form and in the betting.
'Antonia' displayed her liking for cut in the ground when romping home at Newbury, while 'Manuela' finished a highly creditable fourth in the Investec Oaks, just two and a half lengths adrift of Anapurna. Beckett is more adept in handling a Classic filly than most, and his duo should not be underestimated.
Neil Morrice's Predicted Finish:
1st IRIDESSA
2nd Fleeting
3rd Star Catcher
4th Pink Dogwood
5th Manuela De Vega
Doncaster Best Bet
Race 2: DALANIJUJO (2) (Each Way)
Trainer: Mick Channon
Jockey: Charles Bishop
Fraternity sets a high standard for her foes to aim at in a race that's been won by such luminaries as Laurens in recent years. However, it could be worth chance
DALANIJUJO as a value alternative. The Night Of Thunder filly has worked with promise and could work in exactas with the favourite.
Market Rasen Best Bet
Race 4: VAN GOGH DU GRANIT (4)
Trainer: David Pipe
Jockey: David Noonan
The £50,000 Summer Plate is the jewel of jump races at this time of year and with his course winning form and wonderful consistency
VAN GOGH DU GRANIT should give us a good run for our money. It was only at the end of a similar race at Uttoxeter that he gave way, after jumping and travelling well, and he should not be inconvenienced by this abrupt step back on the distance scale.
Haydock Park Best Bets
Race 4: BEER WITH THE BOYS (7)
Trainer: Mick Channon
Jockey: Franny Norton
BEER WITH THE BOYS made a belated entry to the stage over this trip at Sandown when running as if just needing it. He's a gassy individual that now has the cutting edge and should progress from that to at least run into the money.
Ripon Best Bets
Race 2: ENJOY THE MOMENT (4)
Trainer: Mick Channon
Jockey: David Egan
This looks a good opportunity for
ENJOY THE MOMENT to open her account after any eyecatching effort on her Chester debut. Easy to back for that Roodee race, she lost ground at the start but went past everything bar runaway winner Dr Simpson on ground that will be replicated today. Going round the Chester bends is a good learning curve and Enjoy The Moment can go one better.
Race 4: KOEMAN (2)
Trainer: Mick Channon
Jockey: David Egan
On what will hopefully prove a good day for this trainer/ jockey combination,
KOEMAN is of serious interest following his good run in the ultra competitive Old Newton Cup at Haydock. In that 17-runner handicap his pilot had a rush of blood to the head in making a big move rounding the home bend that too KOEMAN onto the heels of the leaders. The problem was that it drained the horse of energy reserves needed for the finish. And although this is also a Class 2 handicap, it's nothing like as competitive.
Newbury Best Bets
Race 2: BILLY RAY (14) (Each Way)
Trainer: Mick Channon
Jockey: David Probert
A ground check will be required for
BILLY RAY to get the green light to run. He's a heavy-topped individual that ideally needs give underfoot, and the overnight rain on Friday will certainly have assisted in that area. First time back at Ascot he attracted plenty of support but blew up at the business end. Then at Newmarket he ran a cracker on ground quicker than ideal, doing some sterling work to finish just out of the money. I believe he's on a dangerous mark, and whatever happens here, is one to follow in the autumn.
Race 4: EMTEN (11) (Each Way)
Trainer: Jamie Osborne
Jockey: Nicola Currie
In a race where the market is dominated by Ventura Rebel, EMTEN brings different Royal Ascot form to the table and should not be underestimate. She was a taking winner on her debut and somehow started 80-1 for the Queen Mary Stakes, yet in that Group 2 came from well off the pace on the stands side to finish strongly in fifth, beaten four and a half lengths by the winner A'ali. She has worked beautifully since, and in an admittedly hazardous heat for betting can definitely get a medal.
Newmarket Best Bets
Race 1: INCOGNITO (4)
Trainer: Mick Channon
Jockey: Callus Shepherd
The improving
INCOGNITO faces a handful of fillies with similar credentials to bring to the table but if running as well as she's been working, will definitely go close. Like so many from this stable she stepped up on his first offering to make a frame finish over this course and distance last time, beaten two and three-quarter lengths into fourth by Light Blush. She's a filly heading in the right direction, and should be backed accordingly.
Race 4: THRAVE (5)
Trainer: Henry Candy
Jockey: Dane O'Neill
Following
THRAVE has proved hard on the pocket this year, but he remains a well-handicapped horse who is going to win off his mark and I hope it's today. He ran a cracker on his second outing of the year when getting pipped at Newbury where being the meat in a sandwich between horses didn't help his cause in the final 200 yards. Then he went out like a light after holding every chance turning for home at Sandown. However, it was discovered there was an issue and the removal of a corn is hopefully the reason for that reverse. I shall back him to prove it.
