Neil Morrice best bets and tips – 18 October 2021

PLUMPTON

Race 4 No4 UP THE STRAIGHT (Nap)
Trainer: Richard Rowe – Jockey: Niall Houlihan

UP THE STRAIGHT was highly tried in novice and novice handicap chases last season. That winless campaign nevertheless yielded an earning run in a Listed contest at Sandown and another behind the useful Umbrigad at Fontwell. With more chasing experience than his opponents he can make a winning return.

BATH

Race 4 No3 CELTIC ART (Each Way)
Trainer: Paul Cole – Jockey: David Probert

CELTIC ART stayed on well up the final hill when a never nearer second to Turntable at Newmarket. He ran into a well handicapped rival, the like of which should not be lurking amidst his rivals in this admittedly still competitive affair.

Race 5 No2 HUNDRED ISLES (Each Way)
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Charles Bishop

HUNDRED ISLES served his connections well with back-to-back successes in April, and when just out of the money at Goodwood last time was beaten just over four lengths. The powerful gelding has been in good form at home ahead of this, and should put in an earning.

PONTEFRACT

Race 3 No10 WESTOVER (Nap)
Trainer: Ralph Beckett – Jockey: Ryan Moore

WESTOVER is better drawn than his main market rivals and as the one with the best form to bring to the table should prove hard to beat. He landed some good bets on debut at Sandown, and ran into a smart foes when second to Zechariah in a conditions event at Newbury.

Race 6 No7 AFTER JOHN
Trainer: Harvey Bastiman – Jockey: S James

AFTER JOHN got going late on each of his latest starts at Hamilton and Ayr. This mercurial character looks to be getting closer to a first success for his trainer. A market check is advised.

WOLVERHAMPTON

Race 3 No4 LIANGEL HOPE
Trainer: David O’Meara – Jockey: Danny Tudhope

LIANGEL HEAD deserves a change of luck after being denied by inches in both starts so far. The gelding was heavily backed into odds-on at Chelmsford and can now show on a return visit to Dunstall Park, where he had earlier debuted, that those losses were merely lent.

Race 7 No1 CIOTOG (Nap)
Trainer: Brian Meehan – Jockey: Martin Dwyer

CIOTOG stepped up on an underwhelming debut effort to chase home Mujtaba at Chester, outperforming his 18-1 starting price and indicating that he should be more than capable of picking up a normal novice stakes, which this is.

Place Accumulator Perm (Races 2-8)

11, 3 x 4, 3 x 7, 9 x 10, 12, 2 x 1, 3, 2 x 1 x 10, 8, 1

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