Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Friday’s racing coming your way from Fakenham, Kelso, Lingfield Park, Southwell and Dundalk.
FAKENHAM
Race 1 No4 BLAME THE GAME (Nap)
Trainer: Chris Gordon – Jockey: Tom Cannon
It’s very hard to look past BLAME THE GAME as the best bet on this card granted how well he ran in defeat in an Ascot handicap when last seen before Christmas. Having gamely opened his account in a Plumpton novice, he was then no match for Morning Spirit but it was a better race than the one he’s contesting today. It also showed he wants three miles, while he’s the least exposed runner in terms of past experience.
Race 2 No4 ALL GOOD THINGS
Trainer: Matt Sheppard – Jockey: Stan Sheppard
I hope ALL GOOD THINGS do come to an end for us as early as Race 2, with the in-form nine-year-old returning to winning ways against mainly out of form foes. The selection is in the zone after winning at Bangor and chasing home The Wire Flyer at Ffos Las and will be at prohibitive odds to add this lowly seller to his laurels.
KELSO
Race 1 No9 MALPAS (Nap)
Trainer: Donald McCain Jr – Jockey: Brian Hughes
MALPAS
has been all dressed up with nowhere to go and simply marking time following a
most unlucky departure at the final Catterick hurdle with the race at his
mercy. He’s had to miss two very good subsequent opportunities owing to
abandonments, and can now show he’s a horse worth the wait.
Race 4 No6 DUC DE GRISSAY
Trainer:
Sandy Thomson – Jockey: Brian Hughes
Although falling on two of his three visits to this borders track, DUC DE GRISSAY won handily on the other and remains a horse with room for progression. In three years racing he’s only had nine outings under Rules, taking home a cheque on seven occasions. He also loves to get his toe into the ground, which will be bottomless.
Race 6 No1 ELVIS MAILTrainer: Nick Alexander – Jockey: Conor O’Farrell
This looks the best race on the card, with a number of the field being earmarked for Cheltenham. Respect is paid to Thebannerkingrebel and also Eclair D’Ainay, but one that could trump them is locally-trained ELVIS MAIL. The grey has won five of his ten starts since being sent jumping including one chase, and though running below expectations at Haydock last time is well worth another chance.
LINGFIELD PARK
Race 1 No5 MR MAC (Nap)
Trainer: Simon Hodgson – Jockey: Dylan Hogan
This
is a disappointing card for wagering purposes, hence the one bet on MR MAC in
the opener. He’s up against a prolific scorer in Velvet Vista, but I feel that
one could now be vulnerable and the selection ran out a snug winner over course
and distance last month. Furthermore he’s coming back fresh off a short break.
SOUTHWELL
Race 2 No3 MACK THE KNIFE (Nap)
Trainer: James Ferguson – Jockey: Daniel Muscutt
MACK THE KNIFE is playing his part in helping put his young trainer on the map, and will be at short odds to complete a hat-trick under a double penalty. Although it’s his first taste of the deep Fibresand surface, he’s closely related to a horse that scored twice here, while he looked to have plenty in hand when delivering at Kempton earlier in the week.
Race 7 No3 BLOWING DIXIE
Trainer: Iain Jardine – Jockey: Andrew Mullen
There’s an old saying in racing that if you miss the wedding you shouldn’t go to the funeral. It’s one I’ve pursued with vigour but such was the dominance of BLOWING DIXIE as his part of the betting coup here two weeks ago that under the same connections he has to be of strong interest to follow up. Plenty of people didn’t know what was going on in that much publicised gamble, but they do now.
DUNDALK
Race 4 No8 WOODROW (Nap)
Trainer: C Farrell – Jockey: Rory Cleary
WOODROW
opened his account on first outing of the year in hugely impressive fashion to
beat Glow Worm four and threequarter lengths. The second is a reliable
yardstick to judge the form by, and the Ivawood colt is Napped to follow-up.
Race 5 No14 THRUMPS DREAM
Trainer: Adrian McGuinness – Jockey: Chris Hayes
All the leading candidates for this fillies’ maiden are badly drawn out wide, and should race in a pack from which the race will develop. Pick of the bunch is THRUMPS DREAM, a Dark Angel filly who showed abundant promise when second on debut here last month.
Race 6 No8 BURNING LAKE (Each Way)
Trainer: Joseph Murray – Jockey: Melanie Horsman
On two Polytrack outings for this trainer BURNING LAKE has shaped promisingly. His fourth to St George’s Head reads well and he was only just out of the money when carrying overweight last week. He’s now partnered by a different, though less experienced apprentice.
Race 7 No3 SILK CRAVAT (Each Way)
Trainer: J Geoghegan- Jockey: Paddy Harnett
SILK CRAVAT has found himself in the grip of the assessor and is still obviously not well treated, however most in this big field have also been in the wilderness, and he’s given another chance to earn at likely long odds.
