Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Sunday’s racing coming your way from Uttoxeter and Kelso on 8 October 2023.
UTTOXETER
Race 1 No6 KING WILLIAM RUFUS
Trainer: Chris Gordon – Jockey: Rex Dingle
KING WILLIAM RUFUS suggested in all three bumper outings last season that he will turn into a useful money spinner for his connections. He claimed cheques at Plumpton, Chepstow and Warwick and has jumped well in practice ahead of this switch to hurdles.
Race 3 No1 CHASING FIRE
Trainer: Olly Murphy – Jockey: Sean Bowen
CHASING FIRE engages in a fascinating clash with classy hurdler I Like To Move It on his debut over fences. It promises to be a baptism of fire, but in fairness to the selection he was impressive in his first season over hurdles, completing a hat-trick before finding the Supreme Novices’ at Cheltenham a bridge too far. He did however recover from that reverse to finish third in a strongly contested race at that course’s April fixture. He’s been well tutored for his new role.
Race 4 No6 ITSNOTEASY (Nap)
Trainer: Olly Murphy – Jockey: Sean Bowen
The same trainer/jockey combo can strike with ITSNOTEASY in this maiden hurdle. The five-year-old cost a six figure sum after coming home unchallenged in a maiden point in Ireland, having been handled in that formative part of his career by Colin Bowe. Murphy looks to have found the perfect race for him to start repaying that high price.
KELSO
Race 1 No4 CHASE A FORTUNE
Trainer: Chris Grant – Jockey: Tom Midgley
CHASE A FORTUNE held his form well in novice hurdles last season when he won at Catterick and earned in all but one of his other starts. He was a tad disappointing on his final outing here in April but had probably gone over the top. A strong traveller, he’s in good order for this return to action.
Race 2 No6 ESPRIT DU POTIER
Trainer: Lucinda Russell – Jockey: Derek Fox
ESPRIT DU POTIER finished sixth in a Grade 2 bumper after winning twice. He hails from a stable with some bright hurdling prospects and is considered to be amongst the best of them.
Race 4 No1 TOMMY’S OSCAR (Nap)
Trainer: Ann Hamilton – Jockey: Sean Quinlan
TOMMY’S OSCAR made a smooth conversion to fences with figures of 12212 in his five chase outings including success in a Grade 2 novice at Doncaster. A prolific hurdles winner, he is one of the best prospects trained in the North, and can show it by scoring at the first attempt in a full handicap.
