Neil Morrice best bets and tips – Saturday 17 February 2024

ASCOT

Race 1 No11 VINCENZO
Trainer: Sam Thomas – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies

VINCENZO made a good fist of it against the smart Diamond Ri at Warwick, eventually succumbing by just over three lengths to that rival on only his second outing over hurdles. Considered one of the best prospects in the Thomas stable, he can serve it up to some similarly well regarded foes of whom Pic Roc could also play a part in the finish.

Race 3 No14 BAD (Each Way)
Trainer: Ben Pauling – Jockey: Ben Jones

BAD returns from a freshening mid season break with strong claims in this hotly contested handicap hurdle. The grey twice finished third in valuable races here earlier in the season, including behind Titan Discovery before Christmas. He’s subsequently been operated on for a breathing issue, and if the surgery has the desired effect should again take home a decent cheque.

Race 4 No5 REVELS HILL (Each Way)
Trainer: Harry Fry – Jockey: Jonathan Burke

Very much the dark horse in a typical Ascot handicap chase is REVELS HILL. The three-times winner showed a liking for this track when troubling the judge on both visits and ended last season with a cracking effort to chase home Kitty’s Light in the Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown. Returning fresh from a near 300-day absence, he’s ready to put his best foot forward against top weight Threeunderthrufive who is a must for exacta and trifecta wagering.

Race 5 BETFAIR ASCOT CHASE (Grade 1)

No1 AHOY SENOR
Trainer: Lucinda Russell – Jockey: Derek Fox

L’Homme Presse will be a short-priced favourite for this recognised Gold Cup trial and commands the majority of the betting handle on the contest along with Pic D’Orhy. It’s an obvious call to go with one of the pair but I shall take a chance with AHOY SENOR whose recent form is better than it looks and who could prove hard to pass if allowed to lead. He was in the process of vanquishing a couple of underwhelming efforts in the Charlie Hall Chase and Coral Trophy, when in the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham his jockey was unable to assist him in the closing stages owing to a tack issue. He’d travelled and jumped beautifully until that point, and on a belated first visit to Ascot can put himself into the picture for chasing’s blue riband.

Race 6 No9 ASTRONOMIC VIEW (Each Way)
Trainer: Sue Gardner – Jockey: Lucy Gardner

In a very warm stayers’ hurdle the unbeaten Mt Fugi Park takes the eye and especially as this is his first run in a handicap for Jonjo O’Neill. Honor Grey is worth a market check for Ben Pauling in spite of his lengthy absence from the racecourse, while another novice that can have a say is Coco Mademoiselle. More appealing at longer odds however is the ultra-consistent ASTRONOMIC VIEW, who keeps threatening to bag a decent pot for the Gardners, who between them own, train and ride the gelding. Although still to win over jumps, the selection has relatively few miles on his clock, while the pick of his form is at right-handed venues like Ascot.

Prediction: 1st ASTRONOMIC VIEW, 2nd Mt Fugi Park, 3rd Coco Mademoiselle, 4th Honor Grey

Race 7 No10 NALA THE LIONESS (Nap)
Trainer: Karl Burke – Jockey: Harry Cobden

Proven in two outings in bumpers, NALA THE LIONESS can justify the long journey from North Yorkshire and take away the spoils. The Roaring Lion filly has proved costly in those defeats, but she brings the best form to the table with Cobden an eye-taking booking.

HAYDOCK PARK

Race 1 No2 YOU WEAR IT WELL
Trainer: Jamie Snowden – Jockey: Gavin Sheehan

This presents YOU WEAR IT WELL with a timely drop into calmer waters, and an opportunity to brighten her prospect for Cheltenham. Aside from a blip in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle she’s done nothing wrong this season, scoring at Wetherby and chasing home Marie’s Rock at Doncaster. Back at Listed level, she should make no mistake.

Race 4 VIRGIN BET RENDLESHAM HURDLE (Grade 2)

No5 SOUNDS RUSSIAN
Trainer: Ruth Jefferson – Jockey: Brian Hughes

SOUNDS RUSSIAN has shown some of his best form when returning from a break, demonstrated when he won over fences at Kelso last season. He finished second in all three of his hurdles as a novice, and in an experimental return from almost a year’s absence can give his rivals plenty to think about.

Race 5 No1 IWILLDOIT (Each Way)
Trainer: Sam Thomas – Jockey: Dylan Johnston

Conditions in the gruelling Grand National Trial are ideal for veteran IWILLDOIT. A credit to his trainer, the former Welsh National winner has done nothing wrong in a select campaign this season, finishing third when going for a repeat at Chepstow and taking away a minor cheque against a Gold Cup horse in the Fleur De Lys Chase at Lingfield. The likes of Famous Bridge, Credo and My Silver Lining will test home over the three and a half miles, but I shall be surprised if the selection doesn’t make a good fist of it in a race that is effectively his Grand National.

Prediction: 1st IWILLDOIT, 2nd My Silver Lining, 3rd Famous Bridge, 4th Credo

Race 6 No1 CUTHBERT DIBBLE (Nap)
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies

CUTHBERT DIBBLE returned from a protracted break to score easily at Leicester and now gets the chance to show what he can do tackling three miles for the first time. With a good conditional doing the steering the gelding can show himself to be a very smart stayer in the making.

WINCANTON

Race 2 JENNINGS BET KINGWELL HURDLE (Grade 2)

No3 NEMEAN LION
Trainer: Kerry Lee – Jockey: Richard Patrick

NEMEAN LION looks the way to go in this Champion Hurdle Trial, having run well in three hugely competitive handicaps this season. The Welsh Champion Hurdle winner would have gone close in Cheltenham’s Greatwood Hurdle but for a couple of silly mistakes, and then repelled all but Jay Jay Reilly under 11st 11lb in the Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton. A Grade 2 winner as a novice last season, if he’s as good as his connections think he is he needs to repel the challenges of Colonel Mustard and Goshen.

Race 5 No5 PENTIRE HEAD
Trainer: Paul Nicholls – Jockey: Lorcan Williams

PENTIRE HEAD has spoiled his chances with a tendency to run in snatches. It’s happened in each of his three starts this season, but he’s well thought of at Ditcheat and gets another chance to put one on the board.

WOLVERHAMPTON

Race 3 No1 CHARLATAN (Nap)
Trainer: David Simcock – Jockey: Callus Shepherd

CHARLATAN showed that he’s still ahead of the assessor when coming from near last to first to complete a hat-trick here last week. He remains unexposed, and can again swoop to conquer in the short home straight.

Race 5 No3 TATATEO
Trainer: James Ferguson – Jockey: Daniel Muscutt

TATATEO showed that a gelding operation has assisted him when second on his first run for five months in a course and distance maiden. That’s good form to bring to the table, and he can repel the challenges of Mon Etoile and Naughty Niall.

Race 6 No5 VAGUELY ROYAL
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: Kieran Shoemark

VAGUELY ROYAL went up 3lb for his latest all-weather success to put him on the cusp of completing a fine hat-trick. For top connections he can take out an outstanding race and at the main expense of Zealot.

Place Accumulator Perm (Races 2-8)

4, 3, 1 x 1 x 1, 3 x 3 x 5, 2 x 3, 7 x 1, 4

R24