Neil Morrice brings you all of his best bets and tips from Monday’s racing at Pontefract, Lingfield Park, Southwell, Windsor and Musselburgh.
PONTEFRACT
Race 1 No5 ROUND THE ISLAND
Trainer: Simon Whitaker – Jockey: Lewis Edmunds
From what looks like a plum draw, ROUND THE ISLAND can make this a seventh course success. He usually needs a couple of outings to bring him to his peak, and on this third start of 2021 is ready to step up to the plate.
Race 6 No7 VERREAUX EAGLE (Nap)
Trainer: Ed Dunlop – Jockey: Mark Crehan
From the base of the handicap, VERREAUX EAGLE can deliver on a first handicap outing. The Free Eagle filly broke her duck with a wide margin delivery at Carlisle that should have considerably boosted her confidence levels.
LINGFIELD PARK
Race 1 No4 I’M DIGBY ( Nap)
Trainer: Thomas Gallagher – Jockey: Tyler Heard
I’M DIGBY is much better drawn than on his latest visit here when beaten by Violet’s Lads. The grey had to use up too much energy in getting across to the lead from a wide draw and had nothing left in the final 50 yards. He’s been a good servant to connections with a win and two seconds and can keep up the good work.
Race 6 No4 BE PREPARED
Trainer: John Bridger – Jockey: Kieran O’Neill
BE PREPARED reacted positively to a first-time visor for his veteran handler to score easily at Salisbury before running well under a 5lb penalty at Goodwood. The four-year-old should appreciate this step up to seven furlongs and return to winning ways.
SOUTHWELL
Race 1 No8 CRACKLE LYN ROSIE
Trainer: Evan Williams – Jockey: Adam Wedge
Kapsize has to be respected after a smooth success at Hexham, but CRACKLE LYN ROSIE can surprise him on the first chase outing for 18 months. There isn’t much of this mare, but she’s a kind traveller who will be suited by the likely strong pace in this contest.
Race 2 No1 BOUGHTBEFORELUNCH
Trainer: Paul Webber – Jockey: Richie McLernon
BOUGHTBEFORELUNCH won in first-time cheekpieces on his only previous visit to this course back in 2018. He’s worn headgear on every subsequent start and has a good chance of bettering a solid run in defeat at Aintree earlier in the month.
Race 6 No5 DREAMSUNDERMYFEET (Nap)
Trainer: Martin Keighley – Jockey: James Best
DREAMSUNDERMYFEET goes without being penalised for a wide margin success here that makes him stand out as the best bet of the day. The Yeats gelding will not mind stretching out in trip in this weakly-contested three-miler.
WINDSOR
Race 4 No4 CHAIRMANOFTHEBOARD (Nap)
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Ron Hornby
On a first outing for more than 300 days CHAIRMANOFTHEBOARD can show he’s fit and ready. He numbered a Class 3 over course and distance among his two triumphs in 2020 and will be favoured by the sporadic rainfall in this area over the weekend.
Race 5 No4 MAIDEN CASTLE
Trainer: Henry Candy – Jockey: David Probert
Course and distance scorer MAIDEN CASTLE was then narrowly beaten at Doncaster and is operating well in what is proving a select campaign. He’s up against some in-form rivals including Rainbow Jet who looked to have the corner when trotting up on her reappearance.
Race 6 No5 SATONO CHEVALIER (Each Way)
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Richard Kingscote
SATONO CHEVALIER attracted heavy support on debut but was too green to do himself justice in that Nottingham contest. The Invincible Spirit colt has learned much from that initial experience and can serve it up to the reliable yet vulnerable Lexington Knight.
MUSSELBURGH
Race 7 No6 MORTY
Trainer: David O’Meara – Jockey: Shane Gray
On a largely tricky card, MORTY should be worth waiting for. The Kingman gelding was quick out of the blocks on his recent winning visit to Ripon and is drawn to dominate from gate to line if similarly on his game at the start.
Place Accumulator Perm (Races 1-7)
12, 1, 8 x 4, 1 x 5, 2 x 5, 6 x 3, 6 x 4 x 6, 13, 9
R144
