Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips from Hereford, Huntingdon, Leicester, and Wolverhampton on Tuesday 13 October 2020.
HEREFORD
Race 6: No2 – DAME DU SOIR (Nap)
Trainer: David Bridgwater – Jockey: Brendan Powell
This mares’ handicap chase is best left to DAME DU SOIR, who made an encouraging switch to fences in her four outings last season. Her sole success was gained in convincing fashion at this course, while she ran into a couple of useful sorts when second to Midnight Tune at Exeter and The King Of May at Sedgefield. She fell on her final start at Ludlow but is a proficient jumper.
Race 8: No5 – COURTLAND
Trainer: Peter Bowen – Jockey: James Bowen
COURTLAND returns from a short break after winning a bumper and finishing second in another at Newton Abbot. He was more than a match for multiple scorer Ultimate Getaway last time, and has schooled proficiently hard of this first outing over jumps.
HUNTINGDON
Race 2: No11 – VEGAS BLUE (Nap)
Trainer: Nicky Henderson – Jockey: Nico de Boinville
In the colours made popular by Verdana Blue, VEGAS BLUE can transfer the good form shown in three bumpers to jumping hurdles and looks one of the smarter prospects from her trainer’s enviable team of distaffers at Seven Barrows. Her wide-margin victory over Wynn House at this course before Christmas has already been advertised by the last-named horse, while she’s worked and schooled well at home.
Race 4: No1 – ZOUTOISE
Trainer: Tom George – Jockey: Jonathan Burke
Although his racecourse visits have been sporadic, ZOUTOISE returns as a lightly-raced horse going into a new discipline with few miles on the clock. He showed gritty determination to take out a novice hurdle at Catterick when last seen before lockdown and has had a straightforward preparation for this first run over fences.
Race 6: No4 – DOCTOR HAZE
Trainer: Kim Bailey – Jockey: David Bass
DOCTOR HAZE hasn’t enjoyed the run of the green since returning in the summer, finishing second in a novices’ handicap chase at Stratford before unseating his pilot in a similar contest at this track late last month. He’s a horse with few miles on the clock and his trainer looks to have found a good opportunity for him now in handicap company for the first time.
LEICESTER
Race 2: No4 – GHOSTLY
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Silvestre De Sousa
GHOSTLY is gradually getting the hang of things after being too green to do herself justice on his first couple of outings. Key to his chance is his effort two runs back at Wolverhampton when beaten just over two lengths into seventh in what was a blanket finish to that nursery. And although he didn’t manage to go on from that at a Kempton, he again finished just out of the money.
Race 8: No1 – FANNIE BY GASLIGHT (Nap)
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Silvestre De Sousa
Top weight might not prevent FANNIE BY GASLIGHT from putting in a big earning run in the nightcap. She will revel in the easy underfoot conditions and has been made cherry ripe by her two readying runs last month. Furthermore, her recent Chester effort is far better than it looks, as she was picketed on the fence at a vital stage and couldn’t get out. Like so many mares she comes to hand at this time of year.
WOLVERHAMPTON
Race 8: No3 – STREET POET (Each Way)
Trainer: Michael Herrington – Jockey: Barry McHugh
STREET POET knows every grain of sand here and in an open race can make a good fist of dominating this seven-furlong handicap. He was a tad disappointing on his last outing but in spite of meeting a couple of bang in form foes in Freedom And Wheat and Aramis Grey has it in him to go well at a working man’s price.
Race 9: No3 – MEDIEVAL (Nap)
Trainer: Paul Cole – Jockey: Luke Morris
Although he hasn’t won for more than three years, MEDIEVAL keeps knocking on the door and deserves a change of luck. He’s placed in nine of his last 13 starts, going down by just a shot head to Pitchcombe at Bath and then failing by just threequarters of a length to hold Conscious at Lingfield on his last two outings. He has the perfect draw from which to obtain a prominent early position.
