Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips from Exeter, Redcar, and Newcastle on Tuesday 10 November 2020.
HEREFORD
Race 4: No1 – GARDE LA VICTOIRE (Nap)
Trainer: Philip Hobbs – Jockey: Richard Johnson
Veteran GARDE LA VICTOIRE showed he was no back number in a select campaign last winter, culminating in a staying on third in a hugely competitive Class 2 at Kempton the day after the Cheltenham Festival. Patiently ridden, he worked his way into contention as the race developed, and granted another fence to jump might have given the winner Delire D’Estruval something to think about. With so few miles on the clock over the past two and a half years, there’s still good races to be won with this talented servant, who can outclass these foes.
Race 5: No6 – WILLIAM HENRY
Trainer: Sam Thomas – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
With two wind operations behind him, WILLIAM HENRY embarks on a fresh campaign with a new trainer. Not far off being top drawer on his best runs over hurdles, the selection was last seen winning in soft ground at Fontwell before the first lockdown. He’s been well prepared for today’s switch to fences, and is confidently expected to land the spoils.
HUNTINGDON
Race 1: No2 – MARADA (Nap)
Trainer: Dan Skelton – Jockey: William Marshall
MARADA looks an improved operator judging by her two outings last month that resulted in a narrow defeat at Warwick and a wide margin conversion at Hereford. With her tail up and assisted by her pilot’s 7lb claim, she can defy a penalty for that triumph at the main expense of Go Chique.
Race 2: No2 – PRECIOUS CARGO
Trainer: Nicky Henderson – Jockey: Nick de Boinville
Mister Tommytucker will adopt his usual forcing tactics and start odds-on for this intermediate chase, but in PRECIOUS CARGO he meets a capable foe that himself displayed plenty of ability over fences last season. The selection showed he goes well fresh when coming home unchallenged on chase debut at this course before Christmas, then ran into good yardsticks like Moonlighter and Rouge Vif, before falling in a novices’ handicap chase at the Cheltenham Festival. Mister Tommytucker was reeled in by Al Dancer on his comeback at Newton Abbot, and while there’s nothing wrong with that effort it should be remembered that he fell in three of his four previous outings over fences.
Race 4: No4 – ROWLAND WARD
Trainer: Stuart Edmunds – Jockey: Cieran Gethings
There are several promising types in this handicap hurdle, but the one with plenty of scope for improvement now out of novice company is ROWLAND WARD. He was going well when falling on his debut over jumps at Warwick, showing a liking for cut in the ground. He then made no mistake at Kempton’s Christmas meeting, and on his final start on trials day at Cheltenham wasn’t beaten far by Galahad Quest in a Grade 2. From a stable that is beginning to find a bit of form, he can give recent scorer Namid Dancer plenty to think about.
Race 6: No1 – GIVEPEACEACHANCE (Each Way)
Trainer: Denis Coakley – Jockey: Daryl Jacob
The hooded GIVEPEACEACHANCE has shown enough in three starts over hurdles to make her of interest in what looks a weakly-contested first division of the handicap hurdle. She’s a very well-bred individual that could easily improve now moved up to two and a half miles, a trip over which she might find it easier to dominate than was the case at Warwick last time.
Race 7: No5 – DOLLNAMIX
Trainer: Emma Lavelle – Jockey: Aidan Coleman
Having lost her way last season, DOLLNAMIX has got himself onto a decent mark, a point that was mirrored when he beat all but Eyeofthescorpion on seasonal return over course and distance. With his track knowledge and apparent well being he has a good chance of going one better.
Race 8: No4 – ROMAN KNOWS
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Page Fuller
While Ian Balding was not averse to training a National Hunt horse or two, his son Andrew doesn’t make a habit of it and so of particular interest in the concluding bumper is ROMAN KNOWS. The three-year-old is an unknown quantity but well worth a market check.
LINGFIELD PARK
Race 2: No1 – BIG BRESIL (Nap)
Trainer: Tom George – Jockey: Jonathan Burke
Former Irish pointer BIG BRESIL ran well on both starts for his new trainer at Exeter, finishing second to Red Rookie in a bumper in late January and then surprising Lamanvar Storm in a novice hurdle the following month. Lockdown stopped him in his tracks as far as further racing was concerned, but he remains one of the most promising novices in this stable and should make no mistake here.
Race 7: No1 – DESQUE De L’ISLE
Trainer: Venetia Williams – Jockey: Charlie Deutsch
DESQUE DE L’ISLE outpointed an in form foe when proving far too good for Go As You Please over this course and distance last month. The seven-year-old seems to have benefitted from the removal of the hood he sported throughout last season, and if turning up in similar mood will be hard to beat.
