Luke Morris: “If she gets a clean trip she’s got every chance of winning this race”

Reigning Champion Jockey Luke Morris previews his rides ahead of All Weather Finals day at Lingfield this Friday

The all-weather winter season comes to an end at Lingfield on Good Friday and I’m looking forward to what should be a brilliant day of racing. There’s £1 million in prize-money up for grabs and the quality of the fields is fitting for that sort of money. It’s undoubtedly the best running of Finals Day since it started four years ago and the quality of the action has improved every year. The card this time around is a reflection of that.

There are horses in there this year that can, and almost certainly will, make their mark at the top level through the rest of the year. I’ve got a really good set of rides and I’m hoping I can get a winner or two from them.

2.10 Lingfield – Vettori Rules

He’s run well in both Fast Track Qualifiers but we just felt the last day that he was a bit idle in the finish. We’ve reached for the cheek pieces on him to hopefully bridge that deficit he has with the other horses. He’s drawn wide in stall ten, which is never ideal, but there’s pace in the race and he’s got an each-way chance if the headgear works. The fact the Natural Scenery, Winning Story and Watersmeet are drawn wider than us opens the race up slightly.

2.40 Lingfield – Staintondale Lass

This looks a very strong race. Realtra, Ashadihan and Muffri’ha are seriously good fillies so I’d imagine the finish will be between those three. I’ll be riding my filly to pick up the pieces and try and nick as much prize-money as I can.

3.10 Lingfield – Encore D’Or

He’s a lovely big horse who I think will only get better as the year goes on. Lingfield’s a little bit of a tight circuit for him, although he’s run well there before. He’s up to 6f for the first time for Robert Cowell, which should suit. There’s loads of pace in the race and from his draw in stall 11 we’ll have to drop him in and ride him for a bit of luck at the end. He’s definitely still on the up and I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he was involved at the finish.

3.40 Lingfield – Mythical Madness

Favourite Ennaadd has looked very good and he’s likely to be very competitive at pattern level through the rest of the year. Mythical Madness has proved to be a very shrewd buy and has paid his way through the winter. He likes to be held up, so his wide drawn doesn’t matter quite so much, and I’ll be riding him to try and pick up the pieces late on.

4.10 Lingfield – Visionary

Winning last time would have helped his confidence. That race was over 7f but it was slowly run so I don’t think it was a true test at that trip, and coming back to 6f is his optimum. He’s nicely berthed in stall four and I think he’s got a solid chance. The favourite Second Thought will be tough to beat, but I think Visionary has a really good chance of being in the mix at the end.

4.40 Lingfield – Absolute Blast

I think she’s got every chance of reversing the form with Convey from the Winter Derby. She was beaten less than a length that day and she was excellent at Kempton last time. She’s drawn wide, and I’ll have to see what her trainer Archie Watson thinks as it’ll either be a case of kicking on or taking a pull and bringing her through from the rear. She’s won both ways and is tactically versatile. If she gets a clean trip she’s got every chance of winning this race.

Cheers,

Luke

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