Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Wednesday’s racing taking place at Fontwell Park, Hereford, Newmarket, and Kempton Park.
FONTWELL PARK
Race 2: No10 – COQUELICOT (Nap)
Trainer: Anthony Honeyball – Jockey: Rex Dingle
Prolific bumper winner COQUELICOT looks attractive on this switch to hurdling on her first outing since lockdown started back in March. After two near-misses the Soldier Of Fortune filly delivered at Taunton, Huntingdon, and Kempton and with her undoubted ability should make her mark over jumps.
Race 6: No5 – SIXTIES SECRET
Trainer: Sheena West – Jockey: Cillin Leonard
SIXTIES SECRET did us a good turn when scoring at a big price on her return at Plumpton, and with her trainer’s horses generally running well can score again off her revised mark. That was a step in the right direction for the five-year-old, who is in good heart.
Race 8: No10 – PRINCESS RUBY
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Tom Queally
Queally’s presence on PRINCESS RUBY is a tip in itself for the concluding bumper. The selection attracted support when placing on her Warwick introduction and has progressed since that promising first foray onto the racecourse for a stable whose runners are in good order.
HEREFORD
Race 1: No6 – MARADA
Trainer: Dan Skelton – Jockey: Harry Skelton
MARADA will be all the rage for this after getting chinned on debut over hurdles at Warwick. It was an eye taking performance from the mare, who can make further improvement from that first outing since March.
Race 7: No6 – THOMAS KERSHAW (Nap)
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Conor O’Farrell
Paul Nicholls and Fergal O’Brien field well-regarded newcomers in this first division of the bumper but the one to be on is THOMAS KERSHAW. The former point-to-pointer has looked promising in his work and should have too many guns for his foes on this first outing under Rules.
NEWMARKET
Race 1: No10 – URBAN VIOLET
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Tom Marquand
As the most experienced runner in this fillies’ novice, URBAN VIOLET holds the cards for a big run. She’s been on good terms with herself since finishing just out of the money on her third start at Newcastle, having placed at Grade 1 courses on her previous two outings.
Race 3: No6 – SYMBOLIC POWER (Nap)
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: William Buick
SYMBOLIC POWER has kept good company in each of his races to date, running into smart rivals such as Recovery Run and Top Brass. The son of Kingman reacted well to the fitting of cheek pieces when chasing home the latter at Chelmsford and any fingers that were burned on him that day should now grab compensation.
Race 4: No1 – ACT OF WISDOM
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: William Buick
With parents that were both Classic winners, ACT OF WISDOM had a lot to live up to and he hasn’t disappointed so far, winning in cheekpieces at Goodwood and Nottingham. On nursery debut, he handled the easy conditions to score decisively at the last-named course, and though burdened with joint top weight against several other previous winners he’s earned it.
KEMPTON PARK
Race 1: No4 – GALAHAD THREEPWOOD
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
GALAHAD THREEPWOOD belied his 40-1 odds when finishing third to Royal Mews at Chelmsford and now has the experience under his belt to deliver a first career win. The Nathaniel gelding is bred to enjoy this step up to a mile and a half in what is a more straightforward assignment.
Race 3: No3 – PORTFOLIO (Nap)
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Ryan Moore
By Deep Impact out of a Dubawi mare, PORTFOLIO can avenge her narrow debut defeat at this course last month. She went down fighting by just a neck to Lovely Breeze and has improved mentally for that pleasing first effort.
Race 5: No1 – ROMMEL
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
ROMMEL needs to circumnavigate a tricky wide draw if he’s to better his defeat by Baba Rez’s at Chelmsford where he fought back well after being headed. The gelded son of Helmet received a form boost when the third home, Henrik, came out and bolted up, and has a good chance of delivering on this return to novice company.
