Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Friday’s racing taking place at Warwick, Exeter, Lingfield and Newcastle.
Warwick Best Bets
Race 1: STICK WITH BILL (1)
Trainer: Harry Whittington
Jockey: Gavin Sheehan
STICK WITH BILL reverts to novice company after winning a novices’ handicap at Sandown. The testing conditions suited this strapping individual who was too strong for his foes up the final hill. His shrewd trainer will today get him qualified for the EBF Final back at Sandown and he can win again under a penalty.
Race 4: EMMAS JOY (3)
Trainer: Dan Skelton
Jockey: Harry Skelton
EMMAS JOY scored with a proverbial ton in hand at Wetherby and now takes on some prolific winners in a Grade 2. It’s a big jump up the class ladder but the mare can confirm her well being by halting the winning sequence of Desaray Girl and Fontaine Collonges.
Race 7: BIGMARTRE (3)
Trainer: Harry Whittington
Jockey: Gavin Sheehan
BIGMARTRE has spent a long time in the wilderness but after three quiet runs is ready to take advantage of his reduced mark in this handicap chase. He was never really in the hunt inJust A Sting’s race at Kempton but should find going left-handed more his cup of tea and is well capable of turning back the clock, with his trainer’s team in super form.
Exeter Best Bets
Race 1: SPRINGFIELD FOX (7)
Trainer: Tom George
Jockey: Jonathan Burke
From a stable finding its form in the nick of time for Cheltenham, SPRINGFIELD FOX can prove a hare that’s hard to catch in what are sure to be attritional conditions. The 7yo really got his act together when making every yard at Chepstow three weeks ago and looks like being far better over fences than he was over hurdles.
Race 2: DANNY KIRWAN (4)
Trainer: Paul Nicholls
Jockey: Harry Cobden
The champion trainer elected to take DANNY KIRWAN out of his race at Doncaster on Wednesday and keep him closer to home. He was not far short of top-class in his first season over hurdles and can exploit his novice status with a smooth comeback triumph on the way to better things. His second to Angel’s Breath in a Grade 2 at Ascot puts him in a different league to these.
Race 5: PERFECT CANDIDATE (1)
Trainer: Fergal O’Brien
Jockey: Paddy Brennan
The Devon National will be run in very holding conditions should the meeting go ahead but PERFECT CANDIDATE is right at home in the mud. The veteran has his sights on another tilt at the Grand National and can bolster his claims, having on his last two starts shown he’s back to near his best. Indy Five could be one for exactas and swingers but has to put a poor effort at Newbury behind him.
Race 4: DE VEGAS KID (5) (Each Way)
Trainer: Tony Carroll
Jockey: George Downing
DE VEGAS KID can turn the tables on his Kempton conqueror on revised terms. The 6yo started a 33-1 roughie but despite being given plenty to do was narrowing the gap at the finish. He’s entitled to come on for that, whilst he’s got a 4lb swing for two lengths, which mathematically should be enough.
Race 6: EQUIPPED (3)
Trainer: Mick Channon
Jockey: Charles Bishop
The only one with scope for improvement in this is EQUIPPED. He’s troubled the judge in two maidens this year and is not easy to assess although his third to the consistent Moveonup, beaten just over two lengths at Chelmsford reads well.
Newcastle Best Bets
Race 3: ON THE BLIND SIDE (5)
Trainer: Nicky Henderson
Jockey: Jerry McGrath
The third ‘Jumper Bumper’ on the card can go to ON THE BLIND SIDE. The automatic favourite was a smart novice hurdler and has run a couple of solid races in defeat at Grade 2 level as a chaser. He’s been competitive in handicaps and is better class than his foes, though it is his first run in a Bumper.
Race 5: SHE’SONEOFHEROWN (13)
Trainer: Harry Whittington
Jockey: Ritchie McLernon
SHE’SONEOFHEROWN attracted plenty of support on her debut at Wetherby where she tried to make all. She gets all the allowances and should come on for that, making her the one to beat.
