Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Friday’s racing coming your way from Doncaster, Lingfield Park, Cheltenham and Wolverhampton on 27 October 2023.
DONCASTER
Race 2 No7 TERAABB (Nap)
Trainer: Charlie Fellowes – Jockey: Jamie Spencer
A son of Derby winner Musar, TERAABB looks the answer to what could be a weak maiden. He’s progressing along the right lines, and his latest offering when third at Yarmouth has primed him to open his account.
Race 5 No4 MIGUEL (Each Way)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: George Bass
MIGUEL couldn’t cut the mustard when badly drawn in a valuable Sales race at York but is better than that effort indicates. He’d previously been a decisive scorer and Brighton and Ripon, and now back in a nursery can set the record straight.
Race 6 No4 METAL MERCHANT
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: TBA
METAL MERCHANT likes getting his toe into the ground as he demonstrated when gamely holding Jeff Koons at Ascot. His victim let the form down on the Kempton Polytrack on Wednesday, but interestingly the pair came clear at Ascot, while the West Ilsley raider had run well at a couple of the summer festivals. Now back to winning form, he can consolidate.
LINGFIELD PARK
Race 2 No3 CATHERINE PARR (Nap)
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: James Doyle
CATHERINE PARR displayed good early speed before weakening on her Kempton introduction and should relish stepping back in trip while remaining on the Polytrack surface. She will be more streetwise, and from her rail berth can trump the penalised Tiger Tulip.
Race 8 No8 EXPERT WITNESS
Trainer: Sir Mark Todd – Jockey: George Rooke
EXPERT WITNESS looked in her element when opening her account moved to the all-weather at this course last month. She stayed on doggedly for that 28-1 shocker, and can now show with another big earning run that it was no fluke.
CHELTENHAM
Race 1 No4 BLACK POPPY (Each Way)
Trainer: Kerry Lee – Jockey: Patrick Wadge
A ferociously competitive conditional jockeys’ handicap hurdle confronts punters as the opening race of Cheltenham’s new season. TEDDY BLUE, AFADIL and ALIEN STORM should all be respected but my best news concerns BLACK POPPY. The Kayf Tara gelding brings strong course form to the table courtesy of her success in an amateur riders’ race in April, while she has the edge on Teddy Blue from her follow-up triumph when last seen at Haydock in May.
Race 3 No7 KATATE DORI (Nap)
Trainer: Sam Thomas – Jockey: Charlie Deutsch
Although this novices’ hurdle is choc full of winners the one I’m looking forward to is KATATE DORI. His three bumper runs all ended in frame finishes, rounded off by a smooth success at Market Rasen in the late spring. While he’s yet to jump a hurdle in public he’s looked assured in his schooling, and can give recent Perth scorer El Elefante plenty to think about.
Race 4 No4 MOON HUNTER
Trainer: Henry Daly – Jockey: Daryl Jacob
Ginny’s Destiny is of considerable interest on debut for champion trainer Paul Nicholls but he might find the concession of 6lb to MOON HUNTER difficult to overcome. The selection was campaigned at the highest level after scoring on his first two hurdles starts, and faced a baptism of fire on handicap debut at Aintree’s Grand National fixture. Always carded to go over fences as soon as possible, he should give a good account and is one to follow.
Race 6 No3 ALMAZHAR GARDE (Each Way)
Trainer: Charlie Longsdon – Jockey: Mr James King
The free running ALMAZHAR GARDE hasn’t won since the spring of 2021 but has been unfortunate not to do so. He has the ability to set up a healthy lead, and with King on his back for the first time the combination could earn at lengthy odds. Bells Of Peterboro is capable of troubling the judge, while the dark horse in the field is Strictlyadancer, who will be all the better for his recent readying run at Chepstow.
Race 7 No1 ANGELS BREATH (Each away)
Trainer: Sam Thomas – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
ANGELS BREATH has to command interest on a return to hurdles on his first outing for 200 days. The grey’s training issues are no secret, but the evidence from his second over fences at Chepstow in April suggests much of the old ability remains.
WOLVERHAMPTON
Race 1 No3 VOLCANOLOGY
Trainer: Charlie Johnston – Jockey: Franny Norton
Phoenix Of Spain filly VOLCONOLOGY opened her account in decisive fashion at Brighton, and with that success qualified to run in nurseries. With Norton retaining the mount she can keep up the good work at the main expense of Go Your Own Way and Free Speech.
Race 4 No1 INITIO (Nap)
Trainer: Ed Bethell – Jockey: PJ McDonald
Although disappointing in holding conditions at York, INITIO’s previous form is much the best on offer in this restricted novice. If the Highland Reel gelding can reproduce to a similar level he should take care of business.
Race 5 No7 ESCOBAR (Each Way)
Trainer: David O’Meara – Jockey: Neil Callan
Veteran ESCOBAR is of interest in spite of a couple of recent heavy defeats. What’s interesting is that it was Callan that rode the nine-year-old when he was only just out of the money in a stronger race at Ascot earlier in the month, while his trainer now tries him in a visor for the first time. It could be the last resort, but equally it could work.
Place Accumulator Perm (Races 2-8)
1 x 4, 1 x 1 x 7, 5, 9, 11 x 7, 6, 1 x 1, 3 x 9, 8, 1
R144
