Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips from Saturday’s racing coming your way from Kempton Park, Warwick, Wetherby, Lingfield Park and Chelmsford City.
Check out Neil's video preview for Saturday's features at Kempton Park and Warwick.
KEMPTON PARK
Race 4 Coral Silviniaco Conti Chase (Grade 2)
No1 ELDORADO ALLEN
Trainer: Colin Tizzard – Jockey: Brendan Powell
This trial for the Ryanair Chase will be tactical, but the one that knows how to keep it simple is ELDORADO ALLEN. Question marks abound against the names of Mister Fisher, Defi Du Seuil and Rouge Vif, but the selection has in contrast produced solid form in both starts this season, including a win in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter. The pros outweighs the cons with the grey, who is also a very proficient jumper.
Race 5 Coral Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle (Listed)
No7 GELINO BELLO (Each Way)
Trainer: Paul Nicholls – Jockey: Harry Cobden
The handsome GELINO BELLO is slick at his hurdles, a trait that’s always an asset for a horse moving into handicap company for the first time. So far he’s raced in mainly small fields, but back-to-back Cheltenham defeats by the smart Blazing Khai bear testament to his ability, while as he likes to lie handily he should be able to look after himself in this 20-runner field. Up For Parol dug deep for his Haydock win and should enjoy stretching out on the distance ladder; Green Book has dotted up in a couple of weaker assignments but ones that have worked out, while Commanche Red could earn at a massive price after slipping to a dangerous mark.
Prediction: 1st GELINO BELLO, 2nd Up For Parol, 3rd Green Book, 4th Commanche Red
Race 7 No5 EARTH COMPANY (Nap)
Trainer: Philip Hobbs – Jockey: Tom O’Brien
The best bet on this card is hat-trick seeker EARTH COMPANY. In each of his successes at Taunton and Wincanton he’s looked stronger the further he’s travelled and put in his best work to forge clear at the finish. Neither race was run at a strong gallop, however, and he looks sure to get one in this better contest.
WARWICK
Race 3 Wigley Group Hampton Novices’ Chase (Group 2)
No4 MINT CONDITION
Trainer: Jennie Candlish – Jockey: Henry Brooke
Threeunderthrufive will start at prohibitive odds in this long distance novice chase but could be seriously tested by MINT CONDITION. With back-to-back triumphs over fences at Huntingdon the eight-year-old has carried his smart hurdles form into a new sector of the jumping spectrum. This is a big step up for him, but at the respective prices he appeals as a value bet.
Race 4 Ballymore Leamington Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2)
No6 SURREY QUEST
Trainer: Nicky Henderson – Jockey: Aidan Coleman
SURREY QUEST was allowed to dot up after a pronounced market drift at Doncaster to give his trainer yet another string to his novice hurdler bow. The Milan gelding should give short shrift to his opponents in this trial for the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
Race 5 Agetur UK Ltd Classic Handicap Chase (Grade 3)
No1 CORACH RAMBLER (Each Way)
Trainer: Lucinda Russell – Jockey: Derek Fox
Prediction: 1st CORACH RAMBLER, 2nd Paddleyourowncanoe, 3rd Gericault Roque, 4th Jerrysback
CORACH RAMBLER makes his debut in a full handicap under top weight, but after clear cut successes in novice handicap chases at Aintree and Cheltenham looks an exciting proposition for this marathon. Paddleyourowncanoe and Gericault Roque also deserve respect from lower in the weights and should be competitive, while Jerrysback is capable of taking home a cheque if on a going day. All three should be added into exotics in the best betting entity at this meeting, but I fancy Coragh Rambler for an outright win.
Race 6 No3 THIRD WIND (Nap)
Trainer: Hughie Morrison – Jockey: Tom Cannon
Morrison has been quiet with his runners in the early part of the New Year, but in THIRD WIND the Summerdown trainer has a horse that requires abundant respect. The eight-year-old hasn’t run in a handicap since November 2020 and landed a Grade 2 success at Huntingdon just short of a year ago. His racecourse visits are infrequent, but I’m convinced he can leave what on paper looks an underwhelming first run back at Ascot well behind him at this lower level.
WETHERBY
Race 1 No6 OUR JET (Nap)
Trainer: Dan Skelton – Jockey: Bridget Andrews
Judging from his effort to make a race of it with Hillcrest at Aintree in November, OUR JET is the proverbial ‘good thing’ in the opener. He needs to show a subsequent disappointing effort at Warwick was a mere blip, and if doing that will open his account with the minimum of fuss.
Race 6 No7 MOROSOV COCKTAIL
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: Jamie Hamilton
It’s hard not to like MOROSOV COCKTAIL from a tempting weight in this staying handicap chase. His course and distance win three weeks ago was only his second start over fences, with the first two pulling clear. He seems to be in a good place, and can make light of a 6lb rise.
LINGFIELD PARK
Race 6 No3 NO FLIES ON ME (Nap)
Trainer: Mark Johnston – Jockey: Joe Fanning
NO FLIES ON ME is a progressive filly who should complete a fine hat-trick and remain unbeaten on sand. Both her successes have happened at this track and over today’s trip. She hails from the top stable in the North, and carries a confident ‘best bet’ tag.
Race 7 No2 DEVIZES
Trainer: Pat Phelan – Jockey: Rhys Clutterbuck
DEVIZES was a cosy scorer here last week when backed from odds against to odds on. He can now go forward and win again, aided by that confidence boosting effort.
CHELMSFORD CITY
Race 5 No1 ALMAAN (Nap)
Trainer: Henry Spiller – Jockey: Christian Howarth
ALMAAN has low mileage and on only a third start for his trainer can follow-up last week’s comfortable success over course and distance. He possesses scope for further progression and should prove hard to beat.
Place Accumulater Perm (Races 1-7)
2, 1 x 11, 12 x 1 x 7, 9 x 1, 8 x 3 x 6, 1
R32
