Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips from Sunday’s racing coming your way from HUNTINGDON and SEDGEFIELD.

HUNTINGDON

Race 3 No6 JUNIPER (Nap)

Trainer: Harry Whittington – Jockey: Daryl Jacob

JUNIPER probably met a stern rival in Fable at Huntingdon, and granted normal improvement should go one better as the best bet on the card. She was coming off a 524 day absence, yet for much of the journey travelled much the best. She steps back a tad on the distance scale but that shouldn’t prevent her taking the spoils.

Race 6 No4 MOIDORE (Each Way)

Trainer: Charles Pogson – Jockey: Philip Armson

At a big double figure price MOIDORE can take home a cheque in this stayers’ handicap hurdle. The gelded son of Galileo might not have won for almost two years but some of his subsequent form is better than it looks on paper. He’s a better place than win entity, but could get into the money for his small stable.

Race 7 No1 QUID PRO QUO

Trainer: Dan Skelton – Jockey: Harry Skelton

The Skeltons can take care of the nightcap with Hereford scorer QUID PRO QUO on his return from a more than four month absence and under a 7lb penalty. With the second and third home having scored subsequently he is the outstanding form pick, while his stable could hardly be in better form.

HEREFORD

Race 1 No3 DARGIANNINI (Nap)

Trainer: Harry Whittington – Jockey: Gavin Sheehan

Few horses have impressed as much as DARGIANNINI on his debut in a bumper here in the autumn. He came home unchallenged that day but then got stuck in the mud at Aintree. He’s been waiting in the wings for this better ground and can regain the winning at the main expense of Malpas in what looks a strictly two horse affair.

Race 2 No8 THE LION DANCER

Trainer: Charlie Mann – Jockey: Gavin Sheehan

After a string of failures to complete the course THE LION DANCER bounced back to near his best with a wide margin triumph on testing ground at Chepstow. He will encounter quicker conditions this time but is getting a lot of weight from his seven foes, and can win again.

Newbury/NSM

HITMAN
has his sights on Aintree rather than Cheltenham following a bloodless triumph
for Paul Nicholls and Bryony Frost in the BetVictor Novices’ Chase at Newbury
today.

Nicholls
was quick to name a Grade 1 novices’ chase over two and a half miles on the
Mildmay course as a next port of call for the 1-7 winner, who overcame a minor
mistake at the first in the home straight, four out, to score by nine and a
half lengths from Captain Cuckoo.

The
Ditcheat trainer observed: “I didn’t think he necessarily had enough experience
for Cheltenham and he’ll go to Aintree for the Grade 1 over two and a half
miles. Today he’s put in a clear round which was beautiful to watch. The only
way it might change is if the ground was very testing, when I wouldn’t be
afraid to switch him back to two miles.”

Sir
Ivan put in an immaculate round of measured jumping to gain a deserved first
success of the season in the BetVictor Veterans’ Handicap Chase.

Harry
Fry’s eleven-year-old had placed in his last three starts and then been
prevented by the weather and unsuitable ground conditions from taking up
further engagements.

But
after gaining ground at the majority of the obstacles here, the 8-1 shot
targeted long time leader Valadom in the straight, overhauled that rival at the
last and kept on under pressure for Lorcan Murtagh to score by a length and a
half.

Fry
praised the consistency of his winner, observing: “He has run well in veterans’
chases and keeps running to his mark, and I thought Lorcan got a great tune out
of him. He was due to go to Exeter which was called off, then he was in over
hurdles at Huntingdon but when I got there the ground was bottomless and I took
him out, and decided to wait for this.”

Tom
Buckley enjoyed a winning first ride at Newbury aboard ALWAYS RESOLUTE in the
BetVictor Seniors’ Handicap Hurdle.

The
Ian Williams-trained gelding picked off his rivals in the long home straight,
staying on strongly to beat Eaton Hill two and three quarter lengths.

Buckley,
who is attached to the Charlie Longsdon stable, said: “He’s run around
Cheltenham which is a stayers’ course and also over two and a half miles at
Wetherby. He was very slick with his jumping and put his head down when he saw
the gaps.”

After
bagging the featured Greatwood Gold Cup with Umbrigado, David Pipe completed a
double when IRON HEART resisted the late surge of Java Point in the BetVictor
Novices’ Handicap Hurdle. The bottom weighted 9-2 joint favourite was
confidently handled by Fergus Gillard, but after going clear lasted home by
just a neck.

The
Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Bumper went to CHARLIE’S GLANCE who made most
under Harrison Beswick to score by five and a half lengths and five lengths from
Our Jester and Silent Revolution for trainer Andrew Martin.

The
Alex Hales-trained MILLERS BANK took the BetVictor Handicap Hurdle, keeping on
too well under Harry Bannister for Highway One O Two and Hasanabad.