Neil Morrice best bets and tips – Saturday 04 December 2021

SANDOWN PARK

Race 2 No11 SHIROCCO’S DREAM (Each Way)
Trainer: Colin Tizzard – Jockey: Brendan Powell

Former Irish point scorer SHIROCCO’S DREAM dug deep to open his account under Rules in a novice hurdle at Exeter. He now finds himself getting weight from the vast majority of his foes on handicap debut, and looks poised for another earning run.

Race 4 Close Brothers Henry VIII Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)

No2 EDWARDSTONE (Nap)
Trainer: Alan King – Jockey: Tom Cannon

In a race that could have a major bearing on the Arkle Chase market, EDWARDSTONE can trump hot favourite Third Time Lucki to state his own case for that Cheltenham highlight. The selection cruised home at Warwick last time and should in fact be unbeaten over fences, as he was brought down when poised for victory on a previous visit to that course and went out at halfway in a Doncaster novices’ handicap chase that would have been his for the taking. His jumping is getting more assured with each race, while his smart turn of foot can at least shake-up the market leader.

Race 5 BETFAIR TINGLE CREEK CHASE (Grade 1)

No5 NUBE NEGRA
Trainer: Dan Skelton – Jockey: Harry Skelton

If Chacun Pour Soi performs to the level he has attained in the top graded chases in Ireland he will surely be hard to beat, but a defeat in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham in March suggests there is a hole in him that can be exploited. Strong traveller NUBE NEGRA looks one that can do that, providing his rider waits as long as possible before unleashing his challenge. While eye taking on the bridle, the selection doesn’t do an awful lot when hitting the front, and granted how stiff the final climb to the line is here his chances will soar should he attack Chacon Pour Soi on the run-in.

Race 6 No7 STRICTLYADANCER
Trainer: Christian Williams – Jockey: Jack Tudor

STRICTLYADANCER has done us a couple of favours and has a good shot at repeating that as he seeks to complete a rapid four-timer. His jumping wasn’t always slick at Haydock last time, but the fact that he was still able to come back onto the bridle at the business end demonstrates he’s still ahead of the assessor and must be followed until beaten.

ANTREE

Race 4 No3 UMBRIGADO (Each Way)
Trainer: David Pipe – Jockey: Tom Scudamore

UMBRIGADO has been all dressed up with nowhere to go waiting for suitable underfoot conditions for a return to fences. Hurdling outings to Ffos Las and Bangor have ripened him for this competitive handicap chase and he should give a good earning account, whilst having a solid winning chance to boot.

Race 6 Many Clouds Chase (Grade 2)

No5 SIMPLY THE BETTS
Trainer: Paul Nicholls – Jockey: Gavin Sheehan

SIMPLY THE BETTS ran a stormer on debut for Nicholls when not far out of the money in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham. The former Brown Advisory Plate winner was returning from a lengthy absence and showed how much the run was needed by having a good blow afterwards. This is his first graded assignment out of handicap company and he can give the likes of Protektorat and Native River plenty to think about.

Race 7 Unibet Becher Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

No13 SNOW LEOPARDESS (Each Way)
Trainer: Charlie Longsdon – Jockey: Aidan Coleman

Bold and accurate jumping is a hallmark of SNOW LEOPARDESS who should greatly enjoy a first tilt at these famous Grand National fences. The grey hardly touched a twig when converting on her seasonal reappearance at Bangor, and if getting into a rhythm from the front could soon have plenty of these off the bridle. She’s a doughty stayer on whom her pilot will not be reluctant to commit. Checkitout deserves inclusion for exotic permutations after making a pleasing comeback at Ascot for which he will strip fitter. Mac Tottie took out the Grand Sefton Chase here last month and is another to take seriously, while of the roughies Irish raider and top weighted Chris’s Dream has a class element to bring to the table for Henry De Bromhead.

Prediction: 1st SNOW LEOPARDESS, 2nd Checkitout, 3rd Mac Tottie, 4th Chris’s Dream

Race 8 No10 TAMAR BRIDGE (Nap)
Trainer: Olly Murphy – Jockey: Adrian Heskin

Unexposed improver TAMAR BRIDGE can prove the best bet on the card in the concluding two and a half miles handicap hurdle. In only four public outings the Jeremy gelding hasn’t put a foot wrong, taking out a Haydock bumper on debut, a novices’ hurdle at Ayr and another novice on reappearance at Wetherby. His dismissal of Bass Rock in Scotland has been made to look ultra smart by the second.

CHEPSTOW

Race 4 No6 RUN TO MILAN (Nap)
Trainer: Victor Dartnall – Jockey: Alan Johns

RUN TO MILAN had a nice pipe opener when third to St Emery at Exeter, an exercise that has put the edge on him for a race in which he is easily the least exposed in the field, and open to stacks of improvement.

WETHERBY

Race 2 No3 SHORE SHANTY
Trainer: Harry Whittington – Jockey: Ryan Mania

SHORE SHANTY’s Worcester run has worked out and augers well for a big run from the mare, even though her trainer is struggling to hit a consistent run of form. She should reward each way support now that she’s been made fitter.

Race 4 No8 SAINT PALAIS
Trainer: Richard Bandey – Jockey: Sean Quinlan

Former French-trained SAINT PALAIS has done nothing wrong in four outings for his trainer and smoothly took out a novices’ handicap on debut over fences at Worcester. He’s taken those exertions in his stride, and from a good mark can follow-up.

WOLVERHAMPTON

Race 7 No4 ONESMOOTHOPERATOR (Nap)
Trainer: Brian Ellison – Jockey: Ben Robinson

ONESMOOTHOPERATOR had good form for a leading Newmarket stable before joining Ellison’s yard and appeals as the only bet on this twilight card.

Place Accumulater Perm (Races 1-7)

6, 5 x 3, 10, 4 x 4 x 1, 5, 4 x 3, 5 x 6, 8, 3 x 4, 6

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