Neil Morrice best bets and tips – Saturday 27 November 2021

NEWBURY

Race 3 No11 KAPCORSE
Trainer: Nicky Henderson – Jockey: Harry Cobden

The fragile KAPCORSE has a good chance of turning back the clock and repeating his 2018 victory in the corresponding race. Hugely impressive on that occasion, he followed up in a novice hurdle but spent an eternity on the sidelines with problems that included a wind affliction, which he had been operated for. He looked in good order working under Tony McCoy at this course last week, and if getting it together is going to be a danger to all from his mark.

Race 5 No1 SOARING GLORY (Nap)
Trainer: Jonjo O’Neill – Jockey: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

SOARING GLORY demonstrated his liking for this track when landing the Betfair Hurdle here back in February. He put in a creditable effort when placed in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and could hardly have been more impressive when coming back in a competitive handicap hurdle at Ascot. Although this race promises to become tactical, the selection has the necessary gears to more than cope.

Race 6 LADBROKES TROPHY HANDICAP CHASE (Group 3)

No6 FIDDLERONTHEROOF (Each Way)
Trainer: Colin Tizzard – Jockey: Brendan Powell

One of the biggest fields I can remember for the old Hennessy, which means as well as finding a horse with winning potential we might also need to get lucky. There’s a strong Irish challenge that includes three from the Willie Mullins academy, as well as eye taker EKLAT DE RIRE for Henry De Bromhead. The latter comfortably landed the odds on reappearance in a Listed chase at Wexford, and is unbeaten in all but one of his completed starts, spelling D for danger. The best of the Mullins trio could be ante-post favourite ONTHEROPES, who is lightly raced and could show himself to be a blot on the handicap. Like Eklat De Rire, he impressed on seasonal return when scoring at Limerick, and should it rain that will boost his already serious claims.

KITTY’S LIGHT has better chances of a frame finish than most. He was the moral winner of the Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown and hasn’t done much wrong in chasing home Chirico Vallis at Chepstow and Fusil Raffles at Wetherby in as many outings this season. He has a gritty persona that can lend itself to an attritional task, though connections will hope the rain stays away.

REMASTERED is an interesting candidate who can only improve off a pleasing run over hurdles at Aintree, but the one to back is FIDDLERONTHEROOF. Colin Tizzard’s horses are unquestionably in a better place than at this time last year, and FIDDLERONTHEROOF made a pleasing reappearance when taking out the Colin Parker Intermediate Chase at Carlisle. A former top novice over two miles who went off second favourite for the Supreme Hurdle last year, he rarely fails to get into the money and has rubbed shoulders with top class rivals including Shishkin, Monkfish and Chantry House. If he has the stamina requirements for this, he should put in a big earning run.

Prediction: 1st FIDDLERONTHEROOF, 2nd Ontheropes, 3rd Kitty’s Light, 4th Eklat De Rire, 5th Remastered

NEWCASTLE

Race 5 No12 THE FERRY MASTER
Trainer: Sandy Thomson – Jockey: Craig Nichol

If THE FERRY MASTER is fitter for his pleasing comeback run at Musselburgh he should take some stopping in this Listed chase. The Scottish National fourth has a very good record over fences, is unbeaten in one visit to Gosforth Park and can land the spoils at the main expense of Good Boy Bobby.

Race 6 No4 DONNAS’S DOUBLE
Trainer: Sandy Thomson – Jockey: Ryan Mania

Course winner DONNA’S DOUBLE impressed with the smooth manner of that bumper success. He’s schooled well at home and has a good chance of starting his jumps career on a winning note.

Race 7 BETFAIR FIGHTING FIFTH HURDLE (Grade 1)

No6 EPATANTE (Nap)
Trainer: Nicky Henderson – Jockey: Aidan Coleman

If EPATANTE is to regain the Champion Hurdle crown she surrendered last season she needs to start her campaign with a win in this early trial for Cheltenham. It’s a race her trainer has harvested over the years, including with this mare 12 months ago. Epatante had an issue for most of the rest of that season and could only take minor spoils behind Honeysuckle at the Festival. However, she’s been working with her head down and according to Henderson is as close to peak as she needs to be to state her case, probably at the main expense of young pretender and unbeaten MONMIRAL. Front runners have been known to do well in this, so at a big price, it might be worth including NOT SO SLEEPY in your calculations as well.

Prediction: 1st EPATANTE, 2nd Monmiral, 3rd Not So Sleepy

BANGOR-ON-DEE

Race 3 No4 GERICAULT ROQUE (Nap)
Trainer: David Pipe – Jockey: David Noonan

GERICAULT ROQUE ran well to a point on chase debut at Wetherby, a run that has brought him on with regard to fitness. He appeared to get tired in the closing stages and will be more streetwise for this staying test. Winner of two of his four starts over hurdles and placed in the other, he’s a bright prospect from the Pond House academy.

WOLVERHAMPTON

Race 8 No11 EL CAMINO (Each Way)
Trainer: Mike Appleby – Jockey: Theodore Ladd

Three-year-old EL CAMINO looks a potential live wire in the nightcap racing off a mark just 2lb higher than when he scored in first-time cheekpieces at Chelmsford. On a very trappy card he can prove to be a bet worth waiting for.

Place Accumulater Perm (Races 2-8)

4 x 6, 2 x 4, 2 x 8, 5 x 4, 7 x 5, 6 x 11, 6, 3

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