Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing coming your way from Chepstow, Kempton Park, Wincanton, and Lingfield Park.
CHEPSTOW
Race 1: No2 – CHAMPAGNE RHYTHM
Trainer: Evan Williams – Jockey: Isabel Williams
On a big day for this stable, CHAMPAGNE RHYTHM can get proceedings off to the perfect start. The gelded son of Oscar has found one to beat him in both outings over hurdles but has experience of this track and will love the ground, having chased home Rocheston in the heavy last time.
Race 6: No1 – WITNESS PROTECTION (Nap)
Trainer: Martin Keightley – Jockey: James Best
If this develops into a slog WITNESS PROTECTION should handle it better than most. He did us a big favour scoring at double-figure odds first time back at Stratford before getting worried out of it by Fern Hill at Wetherby. In these conditions, he shouldn’t mind dropping back on the distance ladder and is the one to beat.
Race 7: CORAL WELSH GRAND NATIONAL HANDICAP CHASE (Grade 3)
No2: TRUCKERS LODGE (Each Way)
Trainer: Paul Nicholls – Jockey: Lorcan Williams
The inclusion of a horse many believe is a handicap ‘snip’ makes this a better betting race for value, and if indeed SECRET REPRIEVE is beatable then TRUCKERS LODGE has to be worthy of very close inspection based on a terrific record in this type of contest. The nine-year-old has very few miles on the clock over fences, and in only two attempts at big staying handicaps chased home Potters Corner in this race 12 months ago and then won the Midlands National at Uttoxeter by a country mile. He unseated on his return to action at Kelso, but that was an uncharacteristic blip from a horse that surely has a lot more to offer at this level. Others to throw into the mix are PRIME VENTURE, RAMSES DE TEILLEE, and THE TWO AMIGOS.
Prediction
1st TRUCKERS LODGE
2nd Secret Reprieve
3rd Prime Venture
4th Ramses De Teillee
5th The Two Amigos
KEMPTON PARK
Race 1: No2 – KENTUCKY HARDBOOT (Each Way)
Trainer: Mohamed Moubarak – Jockey: Jack Quinlan
The flashy KENTUCKY HARDBOOT has found his niche as a jumper, and after three good earning efforts is ready to take down a couple of well-regarded foes in this juvenile hurdle. He’s crossed swords with some useful rivals and as well as having form at this course ran Goodbye Stranger to a length and a half at Newbury last time which is the best form on offer.
Race 2: No2 – BOBHOPEORNOHOPE (Nap)
Trainer: Kim Bailey – Jockey: David Bass
BOBHOPEORNOHOPE displayed battling qualities to rally after being headed at Doncaster. It preserved his unbeaten record this season and the manner of the win suggests he will appreciate stepping up to an extended three miles on an easy track, with Barbados Buck’s a dangerous-looking opponent.
Race 5: No7 – INDEFATIGABLE (Each Way)
Trainer: Paul Webber – Jockey: Richie McLernon
The mare INDEFATIGABLE was caught out by a muddling pace in a distaffers’ Listed race here and is better than that run indicates. A dramatic winner of the Martin Pipe Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, she can make the best of her sex allowance to cause problems to her male foes.
Race 7: No6 – GLYNN (Each Way)
Trainer: Nicky Henderson – Jockey: Nico de Boinville
The Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle provides the best betting opportunities of the day, with the unexposed GLYNN really catching the eye from a stable sending out runners again after a short shut down. Winner of an Irish point before scoring 9n debut for Henderson at Doncaster, he returned to that course to chase home Ecco on handicap debut and the form has worked out. He should have plenty more to offer.
WINCANTON
Race 1: No2 – MALINELLO
Trainer: Ben Pauling – Jockey: Daryl Jacob
MALINELLO will be all the rage for the opener after a clear-cut delivery at Market Rasen which followed a creditable first offering over jumps when second to Switch Hitter at this course. The lightly-raced selection hails from a stable that’s running into a bit of form and should be backed to go in again.
Race 2: No10 – ON TO VICTORY (Nap)
Trainer: Alan King – Jockey: Tom Cannon
Few horses deserve a change of luck more than ON TO VICTORY, who has fallen on his last two outings over jumps at Kempton. He looked to be holding the cards when exiting in Third Time Lucki’s race last month and if putting in a clear today will be very hard to beat.
Race 5: No3 – MESSIRE DES OBEAUX
Trainer: Alan King – Jockey: Daryl Jacob
Protektorat has looked the real deal in his all the way triumphs at Carlisle and Cheltenham but might be worth taking on with the hugely promising MESSIRE DES OBEAUX. Always the apple of his trainer’s eye and selection jumped impeccably when scoring here on chase debut and is starting to fulfill the very high hopes held for him as a novice hurdler. Whatever happens today he’s a horse to follow through the remainder of the season.
LINGFIELD PARK
Race 2: No10 – WHO CARES WINS
Trainer: Alan King – Jockey: Hollie Doyle
From the favoured rail, WHO CARES WINS should confirm her liking for Polytrack by scoring on this first visit to Lingfield. She’s shown promise in each of her two career starts at Chelmsford and only needs a small amount more progression to open her account.
Race 3: No3 – GOING PLACES (Nap)
Trainer: Archie Watson – Jockey: Hollie Doyle
Watson landed a gamble with a cast-off from a big Newmarket stable earlier in the week and he looks out to repeat the dose with GOING PLACES. The gelded son of Frankel was placed in both starts for Roger Varian before going onto the sidelines and has joined a master at improving this type of individual.
