Neil Morrice best bets and tips – Saturday 02 April 2022

AYR

Race 1 No3 SEBASTOPOL
Trainer: Tom Lacey – Jockey: Stan Sheppard

This has been on SEBASTOPOL’s radar since his first success over fences at Kempton two weeks ago, where his cause was assisted by the application of a first-time visor. Not only was he always in control that day, but the runner-up Golden Boy Grey franked the form earlier this week. If the visor has a similarly positive effect he will prove hard to beat.

Race 2 No2 SOUNDS RUSSIAN (Nap)
Trainer: Ruth Jefferson – Jockey: Callum Bewley

A horse I’m looking forward to watching in this novices’ champion handicap chase is SOUNDS RUSSIAN. It’s a fair step up the class ladder for the Nap, but he’s been hugely impressive in his triumphs at Sedgefield and Kelso (twice), and probably has quite a lot more to offer.

Race 5 CORAL SCOTTISH GRAND NATIONAL HANDICAP CHASE (Grade 3)

No4 FANTASTIKAS
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies

Any rain will assist FANTASTIKAS in his bid to land Scottish jumping’s most prestigious race. The seven-year-old ran well when seventh in the Ultima at the Cheltenham Festival on the back of some smart form in novice chases, and can add to the good record of novices contesting this marathon handicap. He may find David Pipe’s hat-trick seeker VIA DOLOROSA, last year’s Bet365 Gold Cup first past the post KITTY’S LIGHT and Irish raider STORMY JUDGE his most dangerous foes.

Prediction: 1st FANTASTIKAS, 2nd Via Dolorosa, 3rd Kitty’s Light, 4th Stormy Judge

Race 6 No4 BASS ROCK
Trainer: Sandy Thomson – Jockey: Ryan Mania

BASS ROCK is very interesting on return from a mid-season break. He’s been given a selective 2021/22 campaign and has a good chance to repeat his success of 12 months ago, as he loves this track and the prevailing conditions.

NEWBURY

Race 3 No2 INDY FIVE
Trainer: David Dennis – Jockey: Theo Gillard

The recent course winning form of INDY FIVE stands up well in this veterans’ handicap chase. The 12-year-old was able to get into a good jumping rhythm off an easy lead, and never looked like coming back to his foes. The form has worked out, and he can again prove a hare that’s hard to reel in.

Race 4 No1 SPEECH BUBBLE (Nap)
Trainer: Noel Williams – Jockey: Gavin Sheehan

With the form of her defeat by Love Envoi at Sandown having been given a massive boost when the latter took out the mares’ hurdle at Cheltenham, SPEECH BUBBLE is of considerable interest in this valuable mares’ limited handicap hurdle. She landed some good bets to open her account over jumps on previous start over this course and distance, and promises to prove hard to beat.

CHEPSTOW

Race 1 No1 HERMES BOY (Nap)
Trainer: Jane Williams – Jockey: Chester Williams

HERMES BOY stands out on form in this big field of novice hurdlers. He’s been a credit to his connections with an unblemished earning record in six outings, and is ready to make up for a narrow defeat to Jubilee Express at Hereford last month.

Race 5 No4 DISCKO DES PLAGES
Trainer: Richard Hobson – Jockey: James Best

The front running tendencies of DISCKO DES PLAGES should assist the gelding who suffers from being a weak finisher. He went from hero to zero in the closing stages at Musselburgh last time, but on this course with more fences to aim at he can see it out.

WOLVERHAMPTON

Race 5 No1 CLAP YOUR HANDS (Nap)
Trainer: David Simcock – Jockey: Hayley Turner

CLAP YOUR HANDS recovered from a sluggish start to get the job done here a month ago and is ready to build on that fifth all-weather success. Interestingly, when the selection opened his account back in 2019 he went on to put together a four race-winning sequence, the last three of them here at Dunstall Park. He’s had issues subsequently, but the evidence suggests they are in the past.

Race 7 No1 MAN OF RIDDLES
Trainer: David Simcock – Jockey: Jamie Spencer

Simcock can complete a double courtesy of MAN OF RIDDLES. The top weight had to dig deep to sneak home at Southwell four weeks ago but has few miles on his racing clock, bringing with it hope of further progression.

Place Accumulater Perm (Races 1-7)

10, 7, 13 x 5, 1 x 5, 11, 13 x 1 x 1, 5 x 3, 8, 5 x 1

R108