Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets for Thursday’s racing coming your way from Ludlow, Wincanton, Lingfeild Park, and Newcastle.
LUDLOW
Race 1 No10 HEROSS DU SEUIL (Nap)
Trainer: Nicky Henderson – Jockey: Nico de Boinville
Henderson is sending out a tidal wave of fancied runners and in HEROSS DU SEUIL looks to have the answer to the opener. The gelded son of Arc winner Rail Link was handed the race on a plate when his market rival crashed out at Kempton’s final flight last month, but he still finished a long way clear and is clearly useful.
Race 4 No2 BOND’S LOVER
Trainer: Nicky Henderson – Jockey: Nico de Boinville
The one with scope for improvement in this mares’ handicap hurdle at BOND’S LOVER who being out of a Linamix mare should have no problem handling the testing conditions. It’s more than a year since she landed a novice hurdle at Newbury, but she’s been let into handicaps off a tempting opening mark.
Race 6 No2 HAZEL HILL
Trainer: Melanie Rowley – Jockey: Lee Edwards
The 2019 Foxhunters winner HAZEL HILL is the perfect way to christen the start of the hunter-chase season. Although now in his teens, he went unbeaten through 2018 and 2019 only to blow up when second to Minella Rocco at Wetherby on his last outing a year ago. This time he has the benefit of a recent run in a point, and though beaten it’s served to blow away any cobwebs.
WINCANTON
Race 1 No14 STEADY THE SHIP (Nap)
Trainer: Jonjo O’Neill – Jockey: Richie McLernon
The consistency of STEADY THE SHIP shines through in this maiden hurdle. He’s improved from race to race from bumpers into the jumps division and is primed to open his account for an outfit starting to pop in some winners.
Race 3 No2 BRINKLEY
Trainer: David Pipe – Jockey: Tom Scudamore
The lightly-raced BRINKLEY went out like a light on seasonal return at Exeter and now gets first-time cheek pieces. Heavily backed for that flop, it wasn’t through lack of fitness that he failed and certainly not because of unsuitable ground. He’s too good to ignore here, and could easily bounce back.
Race 5 No3 ROSIE AND MILLIE
Trainer: Michael Scudamore – Jockey: Richard Patrick
With no obvious pace setter up against her, ROSIE AND MILLIE can go all the way from the front in this handicap hurdle. She made a good fist of that at Musselburgh, only to be reeled in by Blakeney Point whose stable couldn’t do anything wrong at the time. She’s shown in each outing since undergoing wind surgery that she’s all the better for it, and would be a deserving winner.
LINGFIELD PARK
Race 1 No9 GALAHAD THREEPWOOD (Nap)
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Tom Marquand
Although he doesn’t do anything in a hurry, GALAHAD THREEPWOOD showed admirable consistency on the all-weather through the autumn and has always looked the type to do better when handicapping. He’s ticked along nicely at West Ilsley and has a solid chance of taking home another cheque.
Race 6 No2 DOUBLE DEALING
Trainer: Richard Fahey – Jockey: Barry McHugh
DOUBLE DEALING has come a long way to try and break his maiden, and the point should be taken. The Estidhkaar colt takes solid form to the table, as the Newcastle race in which he finished third on debut has worked out well.
NEWCASTLE
Race 2 No1 JACK OF TRADES (Nap)
Trainer: Simon Crisford – Jockey: Jack Mitchell
Unsuited by a muddling pace when second at Lingfield three weeks ago, JACK OF TRADES is very much the one to beat on handicap debut for a yard whose all-weather team is firing.
