Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Friday’s racing coming your way from Uttoxeter, Fakenham, Haydock Park, Redcar, and Newcastle on 18 October 2024.
UTTOXETER
Race 3 No7 HOE JOLY SMOKE
Trainer: Dan Skelton – Jockey: Harry Skelton
Dan Skelton feels some of his horses will come on for their first outings of the new season but I hope that’s not the case with HOE JOLY SMOKE who has always promised to find his niche over fences.
The six-year-old put in a seasonal best on his final hurdles outing at Newbury and is reported to have schooled well ahead of this switch to chasing in which he gets weight from all six opponents, of whom CLASSIC KING is of almost equal interest and needs backing as a saver and using in all exotics.
Race 4 No2 SPECIAL ACCEPTANCE
Trainer: Billy Aprahamian – Jockey: Gavin Sheehan
Aprahamian has already enjoyed success with former inmates from now retired Paul Webber’s stable. Webber is involved assisting the new licence holder with his early runners and SPECIAL ACCEPTANCE greatly interests me in this long distance handicap chase. The veteran hit the crossbar on more occasions than you would care to mention last season but might have improved for a change of scenery.
Race 5 No1 DARGIANNINI (Nap)
Trainer: Harry Derham – Jockey: Paul O’Brien
Any support for TAMAR BRIDGE would be interesting even though the gelding seemed to have lost his way since going into an enforced absence. A more reliable pick is top weight DARGIANNINI, who ran out a cosy scorer on his second start for Derham at Kempton and appears to be in a very good place as that was a third triumph in only six runs out of his Newbury stable.
FAKENHAM
Race 1 No1 CHARGING THUNDER (Nap)
Trainer: James Owen – Jockey: Harry Cobden
From a yard that’s enjoying a hot streak with its team, CHARGING THUNDER brings strong Flat form to the table for his first run over jumps. He readily rook out a Class4 handicap at Yarmouth on a first run for Owen last month and should enjoy a bright future as a hurdler, starting with a win in this novices’ hurdle.
Race 6 No6 AWESOME FOURSOME
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: James Turner
Although he is one of the lesser lights at Grange Farm, AWESOME FOURSOME is weighted to have a big say in this handicap chase. In the colours of his trainer now is the time to catch him, as his previous success happened on his return to action at around the same time last year, while all runners from this stable have not lacked for fitness
HAYDOCK PARK
Race 6 No6 FIREBRAND (Each Way)
Trainer: J Nallen – Jockey: S D Bowen
German-bred FIREBRAND opened his account at Roscommon last week with the aid of first time cheekpieces. Certain to enjoy the testing conditions, he carries a 5lb penalty on a switch to handicaps, and I suspect he isn’t travelling here solely for the goodness of his health.
REDCAR
Race 3 No9 SOUND REASON (Each Way)
Trainer: David O’Meara – Jockey: Jason Watson
While I’ve given him a few chances I’m loath to desert SOUND REASON who in spite of a couple of near-misses has come down in the ratings and been given a chance. As long as he breaks well from his low draw he can get involved although recent course and distance scorer PROJECT DANTE should also have a big say.
Race 4 No14 TALISMANS TIME
Trainer: Ed Bethell – Jockey: Callum Rodriguez
Time Test colt TALISMANS TIME troubled the judge on his Newcastle introduction in what proved a largely educational start to his career. He’s worked well on grass, and granted how well his stable is going looks sure to make an impact as he moves up to a mile.
Race 7 No3 WALSINGHAM (Nap)
Trainer: David O’Meara – Jockey: Jason Watson
WALSINGHAM to beat Times Edition is how this novice can play out. Both horses have squandered a few chances and although Times Edition got his head in front only to be disqualified last time he might find still fe found wanting. His rival was beaten in a blanket finish at Pontefract on only a second start for his trainer, which was a very encouraging effort.
NEWCASTLE
Race 2 No7 SCOTTISH REEL
Trainer: Charlie Johnston – Jockey: Billy Loughnane
SCOTTISH REEL makes just a third start of the year and contests only a second handicap but his trainer has done well with horses of his ilk who can suddenly improve. He will need to do that in order to repel the penalised SOMETHING, but granted his big price it’s probably a risk worth taking.
Race 6 No3 JODHPURS BLUE (Nap)
Trainer: Charlie Hills – Jockey: Billy Loughnane
Hills has been quiet but in JODHPURS BLUE he saddles one with a strong winning chance. The Nap has got better race by race, latterly finding only one to beat him at Southwell. He handles the Tapeta surface and this is not as tough an assignment.
Race 8 No4 MR JETMAN (Each Way)
Trainer: Grant Tuer – Jockey: Sam Feilden
MR JETMAN would be a deserving winner of this bottom grade handicap. Since his first win at Redcar 18 months ago the gelding has carded figures of 82-32344, but what attracts me to him is that it’s his first all weather run since claiming a minor cheque at this track last February.
Place Accumulator Perm (Races 2-8)
7, 4 x 8, 12, 5 x 6 x 6, 4, 7 x 3 x 3, 9, 4 x 10, 7
R108
