Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips from Thursday’s racing taking place at Taunton, Warwick, Newcastle, and Chelmsford City.
TAUNTON
Race 5 No8 EL KALDOUN (Nap)
Trainer: Nicky Henderson – Jockey: Jerry McGrath
Respect is paid to classy top weight Palmers Hill, but that horse will do well to successfully give away 15lb to EL KALDOUN, who after putting in an exhibition round of jumping at Hexham blotted his copybook with an early exit when going for the follow-up at Southwell. None the worse for that lapse, he this normally slick jumper can regain the winning thread.
Race 6 No11 MOUNT WINDSOR
Trainer: Chris Gordon – Jockey: Nathan Brennan
MOUNT WINDSOR has come of age by landing some good bets on his recent wins at Lingfield and Fakenham and can now cope with a jump into the deep end. This is a wickedly competitive handicap hurdle but the five-year-old is in the mood to deliver under a capable conditional rider who takes 7lb off his back.
Race 8 No3 CUSHUISH
Trainer: Bob Buckler – Jockey: Sean Houlihan
With only four racecourse appearances over the past 18 months, CUSHUISH could have more to offer. She won over this course and distance a year ago and has run well on both starts this season, finishing just out of the money at Hereford and troubling the judge in a competitive race at Exeter. The Yeats mare stays well and should get into the shake-up.
WARWICK
Race 2 No3 CAPE MILANO (Nap)
Trainer: Philip Hobbs – Jockey: Richard Johnson
There are at least half-a-dozen with claims in this interesting maiden hurdle, where respect is afforded to Conceal and De Young Warrior, but against that pair the value play is CAPE MILANO, whose rider dons the silks of Grand National winner West Tip. Cape Milano attracted market support on his Sandown bumper introduction a year ago when staying on into the money. He’s been given plenty of time to mature into his frame,and can now show he can cut it over hurdles.
Race 4 No4 DON’T SHOUT (Nap)
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
DON’T SHOUT doesn’t have many racing miles on the clock and therefore has untapped potential for this switch to fences. He ran a cracker when returning from a lengthy absence in a hurdle at Ludlow, an experience that should have blown away any cobwebs to make him cherry ripe for today.
Race 7 No12 MEXICO
Trainer: Stuart Edmunds – Jockey: Ciaran Gethings
MEXICO, a gelded son of German Derby winner Sea The Moon, created a favourable impression when beaten in a photo on debut at Bangor. He hails from an outfit that does well with its quota of bumper horses and may prove too strong for the well-touted Blairgowrie.
NEWCASTLE
Race 2 No4 SPEAK OF THE DEVIL
Trainer: Lucinda Russell – Jockey: Stephen Mulqueen
Former Irish point scorer SPEAK OF THE DEVIL has shown a liking for the Gosforth Park circuit without managing to win there. He’s been placed on all three visits and can now in this small field reproduce the dominance of his Hexham success in October. He put in another good effort to trouble the judge at Kelso last time, and is a reliable yardstick.
Race 4 No2 MALYSTIC (Nap)
Trainer: Peter Niven – Jockey: Brian Hughes
MALYSTIC has proved a real money-spinner for his connections by winning four of his ten career starts and showing a liking for this track with two bumper successes. He’s made a smooth transition to fences by finishing second at Carlisle and then going one better in decisive fashion at Wetherby, and looks in the mood to keep up the good work by taking out this novices’ limited handicap chase.
CHELMSFORD CITY
Race 6 No3 DIAMOND DOUGAL (Nap)
Trainer: Robert Cowell – Jockey: Jason Hart
Now that he has rediscovered the winning thread, DIAMOND DOUGAL can start to consolidate. He liked plenty of cut in the ground on turf, but before his recent Wolverhampton win hadn’t shown much for new connections who bought him at the Horses In Training Sales last year. It seems he has taken a while to settle in to life in Newmarket, but this recent evidence suggests he now has.
