Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets for Thursday’s racing coming your way from Bangor-On-Dee, Fontwell Park, Catterick Bridge, and Chelmsford City.
BANGOR-ON-DEE
Race 1 No4 GO AS YOU PLEASE (Nap)
Trainer: Paul Webber – Jockey: Richie McLernon
GO AS YOU PLEASE extended his good summer jumping form into the main season itself with successes at Warwick and Leicester and can maintain his progress with another victory in the opener. At a track where he finished second on debut in a bumper back in 2018, he should put in another earning run.
Race 6 No1 THE GLANCING QUEEN
Trainer: Alan King – Jockey: Tom Cannon
This represents a big class drop for THE GLANCING QUEEN, who will find it calmer waters than her excellent third to Bravemansgame in the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle at Newbury last time. She’d previously landed a similar race to today’s in a convincing manner at Warwick and is set to regain the winning thread albeit at restrictive odds.
FONTWELL PARK
Race 2 No9 BARD OF BRITTANY
Trainer: Sheena West – Jockey: James Best
The consistency of BARD OF BRITTANY has proved a hallmark since his move to this stable, and after a pleasing first run back at Plumpton, he’s poised for another earning experience. The seven-year-old ran Mr Jack to three-quarters of a length at the East Sussex course with the pair pulling clear. He should improve for that first outing since March, and has to be taken seriously.
Race 3 No4 UMBRIGADO (Nap)
Trainer: David Pipe – Jockey: Tom Scudamore
UMBRIGADO is one of the best horses at Pond House and can use this novices’ chase as a stepping stone to better things. With few miles on the clock he’s a horse with scope for abundant improvement, and probably found his first race over fences coming too soon after a cracking run to place in a valuable handicap hurdle at Haydock, where he was mugged on the run-in. He’s definitely a horse to follow this winter.
Race 7 No5 JAZZ KING
Trainer: Sam Thomas – Jockey: Jordan Nailor
This stable is doing well with its small string and the Haydock debut run of JAZZ KING is possibly the best form of offer. The Kapgarde gelding finished fourth to the useful Quid Pro Quo on that occasion and, having been given a couple of months to strengthen up, can now move up to a higher level.
CATTERICK BRIDGE
Race 3 No1 ALAPHILIPPE (Nap)
Trainer: Donald McCain – Jockey: Brian Hughes
ALAPHILIPPE has been cleverly campaigned by his in-form trainer to land a hat-trick in a bumper and two hurdles and attracted market support on each occasion. He has to shoulder penalties, but is in the mood to preserve his unbeaten record under Rules.
Race 7 No2 THE HERDS GARDEN
Trainer: Donald McCain – Jockey: Brian Hughes
This stable is firing out winners at a rapid rate of knots and THE HERDS GARDEN contributed to its tally with a comfortable success over course and distance at the beginning of the month. Although in the twilight of his career he can follow-up at the main expense of stable companion Nefyn Point.
CHELMSFORD CITY
Race 4 No6 TOP DROP (Nap)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Joshua Bryan
TOP DROP can play the experience card to good effect in this novice stakes, taking advantage of the 7lb he receives from the penalised paper favourite Father Of Jazz. It’s true the selection has had plenty of chances, but important to his claims is that his first run back from wind surgery at Kempton was a career-best, and he can now build on that.
